[How do transitions of people with mental disabilities from sheltered workshops to the general labour market succeed? A scoping review].

Abstract

Transition of people with mental disabilities (PwMD) from sheltered workshops (WfbM) to the general labour market remain rare. The aim of this study was to identify factors that facilitate or hinder these transitions in order to highlight existing research gaps and provide impulses for future investigations.The scoping review followed an established methodological framework and the PRISMA guidelines. The literature research covered the period from January 2001 to October 2025. After screening and full-text review, eleven sources were included in the final analysis. Data analysis was based on a thematic approach to identify key influencing factors in the transition process.The findings showed that transitions were shaped by the complex interplay of personal, rehabilitative, and environmental factors. Facilitating factors included individual skills, motivation, initiative, labour-market-oriented support programmes, internships, and qualified support staff. Inhibiting factors comprised low self-competence, structural barriers within sheltered workshops, limited system transparency, and reduced inclusiveness of the general labour market. The review also revealed a strong dominance of conceptual contributions and a limited empirical foundation within the current research landscape.The results highlight the need for empirically grounded studies to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of existing transition instruments. Future research should apply more case- and observation-based designs to better understand the interactions between individual, institutional, and societal influences. Furthermore, closer cooperation within a multi-professional rehabilitation setting, as well as research into the professionalisation of educational staff in sheltered workshops, appear essential for strengthening sustainable transitions and improving the vocational participation of people with mental disabilities.