In January 2002 Joustra was appointed chairman of the board of the UWV, the government management organization for all aspects of unemployment benefits, re-employment and so on.

The renovation cost millions and decked out the directors' quarters with gold, marble and other luxuries — and came at the same time as a reorganization of the UWV in which hundreds of employees were fired.

As it seemed at the time that Joustra had misinformed Aart Jan de Geus (the ministry of Social Affairs and Employment), the minister then demanded his resignation.

He then moved on to several other (simultaneous) positions in the public sector, including the chairmanship of the Association of Private Security Organizations and Detective Agencies[4] and the Productschap Tuinbouw.

[5] It was announced on September 18, 2010 that Joustra will succeed Pieter van Vollenhoven as chairman of the Dutch Safety Board per 1 February 2011.