diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLReader.java b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLReader.java
index 76ca436a..1284c596 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLReader.java
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLReader.java
@@ -20,10 +20,7 @@ import jsprit.core.problem.VehicleRoutingProblem;
 import jsprit.core.problem.VehicleRoutingProblem.FleetSize;
 import jsprit.core.problem.driver.Driver;
 import jsprit.core.problem.driver.DriverImpl;
-import jsprit.core.problem.job.Delivery;
-import jsprit.core.problem.job.Pickup;
-import jsprit.core.problem.job.Service;
-import jsprit.core.problem.job.Shipment;
+import jsprit.core.problem.job.*;
 import jsprit.core.problem.solution.VehicleRoutingProblemSolution;
 import jsprit.core.problem.solution.route.VehicleRoute;
 import jsprit.core.problem.solution.route.activity.TimeWindow;
@@ -304,7 +301,16 @@ public class VrpXMLReader{
 				}
 				routes.add(routeBuilder.build());
 			}
-			VehicleRoutingProblemSolution solution = new VehicleRoutingProblemSolution(routes, cost);
+            VehicleRoutingProblemSolution solution = new VehicleRoutingProblemSolution(routes, cost);
+            List<HierarchicalConfiguration> unassignedJobConfigs = solutionConfig.configurationsAt("unassignedJobs.job");
+            for(HierarchicalConfiguration unassignedJobConfig : unassignedJobConfigs){
+                String jobId = unassignedJobConfig.getString("[@id]");
+                Job job = getShipment(jobId);
+                if(job == null) job = getService(jobId);
+                if(job == null) throw new IllegalStateException("cannot find unassignedJob with id " + jobId);
+                solution.getUnassignedJobs().add(job);
+            }
+
 			solutions.add(solution);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLWriter.java b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLWriter.java
index 93216615..e2cd8196 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLWriter.java
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/main/java/jsprit/core/problem/io/VrpXMLWriter.java
@@ -203,6 +203,11 @@ public class VrpXMLWriter {
 				xmlConfig.setProperty(solutionPath + "(" + counter + ").routes.route(" + routeCounter + ").end", route.getEnd().getArrTime());
 				routeCounter++;
 			}
+            int unassignedJobCounter = 0;
+            for(Job unassignedJob : solution.getUnassignedJobs()){
+                xmlConfig.setProperty(solutionPath + "(" + counter + ").unassignedJobs.job(" + unassignedJobCounter + ")[@id]", unassignedJob.getId());
+                unassignedJobCounter++;
+            }
 			counter++;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/jsprit-core/src/main/resources/vrp_xml_schema.xsd b/jsprit-core/src/main/resources/vrp_xml_schema.xsd
index 2eeefe9f..5161871b 100644
--- a/jsprit-core/src/main/resources/vrp_xml_schema.xsd
+++ b/jsprit-core/src/main/resources/vrp_xml_schema.xsd
@@ -281,7 +281,18 @@
 									 		</xs:sequence>
 									 	</xs:complexType>
 									</xs:element>
-								</xs:sequence>
+								    <xs:element name="unassignedJobs" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="1">
+                                        <xs:complexType>
+                                            <xs:sequence>
+                                                <xs:element name="job" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+                                                    <xs:complexType>
+                                                        <xs:attribute name="id" type="xs:string" use="required"/>
+                                                    </xs:complexType>
+                                                </xs:element>
+                                            </xs:sequence>
+                                        </xs:complexType>
+								    </xs:element>
+                                </xs:sequence>
 							
 							</xs:complexType>