There are long term studies of unemployed in multiple countries that have social safety nets that would be worth reviewing (for example: http://amzn.to/1nosUtx

There are long term studies of unemployed in multiple countries that have social safety nets that would be worth reviewing (for example: http://amzn.to/1nosUtx http://amzn.to/1nosUtx Cultures of Unemployment: A Comparative Look at Long-Term Unemployment and Urban Poverty published by Amsterdam University press in 2006) For many the impact of unemployment (for instance following closure of UK coal mining and steel industries) its not just the loss of job in the economic sense, but the disconnect from the workplace, community, changes in sense of self-worth for individuals and long term cultural and regional impact. There are proven strategies that work and lots of examples that failed. Learning from these and seeing which opportunities map to actions that start-ups can effect through mobile, social and learning technologies might be a useful starting point.