diff --git a/autocheese.lua b/autocheese.lua
index 0e9fb5221..e9bdc146a 100644
--- a/autocheese.lua
+++ b/autocheese.lua
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 --@module = true
 
-local ic = reqscript('idle-crafting')
-
 ---make cheese using a specific barrel and workshop
 ---@param barrel df.item
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return df.job
 function makeCheese(barrel, workshop)
     ---@type df.job
-    local job = ic.make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MakeCheese
 
     local jitem = df.job_item:new()
@@ -22,29 +20,17 @@ function makeCheese(barrel, workshop)
         dfhack.error('could not attach item')
     end
 
-    ic.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
     return job
 end
 
-
-
----unit is ready to take jobs
+---checks that unit can path to workshop
 ---@param unit df.unit
+---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return boolean
-function unitIsAvailable(unit)
-    if unit.job.current_job then
-        return false
-    elseif #unit.individual_drills > 0 then
-        return false
-    elseif unit.flags1.caged or unit.flags1.chained then
-        return false
-    elseif unit.military.squad_id ~= -1 then
-        local squad = df.squad.find(unit.military.squad_id)
-        -- this lookup should never fail
-        ---@diagnostic disable-next-line: need-check-nil
-        return #squad.orders == 0 and squad.activity == -1
-    end
-    return true
+function canAccessWorkshop(unit, workshop)
+    local workshop_position = xyz2pos(workshop.centerx, workshop.centery, workshop.z)
+    return dfhack.maps.canWalkBetween(unit.pos, workshop_position)
 end
 
 ---check if unit can perform labor at workshop
@@ -54,8 +40,8 @@ end
 ---@return boolean
 function availableLaborer(unit, unit_labor, workshop)
     return unit.status.labors[unit_labor]
-       and unitIsAvailable(unit)
-       and ic.canAccessWorkshop(unit, workshop)
+       and dfhack.units.isJobAvailable(unit)
+       and canAccessWorkshop(unit, workshop)
 end
 
 ---find unit with a particular labor enabled
diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index 5ecf8024e..6fc58b711 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ Template for new versions:
 
 ## Misc Improvements
 
+- adapt Lua tools to use new API functionality for creating and assigning jobs
+- `idle-crafting`: properly interrupt interruptible (i.e. "green") social activities
+
 ## Removed
 
 # 52.03-r2
diff --git a/husbandry.lua b/husbandry.lua
index cf8085746..9198013a1 100644
--- a/husbandry.lua
+++ b/husbandry.lua
@@ -4,9 +4,8 @@
 
 local utils = require 'utils'
 local repeatutil = require("repeat-util")
-local ic = reqscript('idle-crafting')
 
-local verbose = true
+local verbose = false
 ---conditional printing of debug messages
 ---@param message string
 local function debug(message)
@@ -120,17 +119,17 @@ local function getAppropriateWorkshop(unit, collection)
 end
 
 local function shearCreature(unit, workshop)
-    local job = ic.make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.ShearCreature
     dfhack.job.addGeneralRef(job, df.general_ref_type.UNIT_SHEAREE, unit.id)
-    ic.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
 end
 
 local function milkCreature(unit, workshop)
-    local job = ic.make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MilkCreature
     dfhack.job.addGeneralRef(job, df.general_ref_type.UNIT_MILKEE, unit.id)
-    ic.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
 end
 
 
diff --git a/idle-crafting.lua b/idle-crafting.lua
index 6744f02fd..e5d25751b 100644
--- a/idle-crafting.lua
+++ b/idle-crafting.lua
@@ -55,26 +55,12 @@ function weightedChoice(choices)
     return nil --never reached on well-formed input
 end
 
----create a new linked job
----@return df.job
-function make_job()
-    local job = df.job:new()
-    dfhack.job.linkIntoWorld(job, true)
-    return job
-end
-
-function assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
-    job.pos = xyz2pos(workshop.centerx, workshop.centery, workshop.z)
-    dfhack.job.addGeneralRef(job, df.general_ref_type.BUILDING_HOLDER, workshop.id)
-    workshop.jobs:insert("#", job)
-end
-
 ---make totem at specified workshop
 ---@param unit df.unit
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return boolean
 function makeTotem(unit, workshop)
-    local job = make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MakeTotem
     job.mat_type = -1
 
@@ -89,7 +75,7 @@ function makeTotem(unit, workshop)
     jitem.flags2.body_part = true
     job.job_items.elements:insert('#', jitem)
 
-    assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
     return dfhack.job.addWorker(job, unit)
 end
 
@@ -98,7 +84,7 @@ end
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return boolean
 function makeHornCrafts(unit, workshop)
-    local job = make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MakeCrafts
     job.mat_type = -1
     job.material_category.horn = true
@@ -114,7 +100,7 @@ function makeHornCrafts(unit, workshop)
     jitem.flags2.body_part = true
     job.job_items.elements:insert('#', jitem)
 
-    assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
     return dfhack.job.addWorker(job, unit)
 end
 
@@ -123,7 +109,7 @@ end
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return boolean
 function makeBoneCraft(unit, workshop)
-    local job = make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MakeCrafts
     job.mat_type = -1
     job.material_category.bone = true
@@ -139,7 +125,7 @@ function makeBoneCraft(unit, workshop)
     jitem.flags2.body_part = true
     job.job_items.elements:insert('#', jitem)
 
-    assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
     return dfhack.job.addWorker(job, unit)
 end
 
@@ -148,7 +134,7 @@ end
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return boolean
 function makeShellCraft(unit, workshop)
-    local job = make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MakeCrafts
     job.mat_type = -1
     job.material_category.shell = true
@@ -164,7 +150,7 @@ function makeShellCraft(unit, workshop)
     jitem.flags2.body_part = true
     job.job_items.elements:insert('#', jitem)
 
-    assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
     return dfhack.job.addWorker(job, unit)
 end
 
@@ -173,7 +159,7 @@ end
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return boolean ""
 function makeRockCraft(unit, workshop)
-    local job = make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.MakeCrafts
     job.mat_type = 0
 
@@ -187,7 +173,7 @@ function makeRockCraft(unit, workshop)
     jitem.flags3.hard = true
     job.job_items.elements:insert('#', jitem)
 
-    assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
+    dfhack.job.assignToWorkshop(job, workshop)
     return dfhack.job.addWorker(job, unit)
 end
 
@@ -291,13 +277,8 @@ local STONE_CRAFT = df.unit_labor['STONE_CRAFT']
 ---@param value_if_absent T
 ---@return number|T
 function getCraftingNeed(unit, value_if_absent)
-    local needs = unit.status.current_soul.personality.needs
-    for _, need in ipairs(needs) do
-        if need.id == CraftObject then
-            return -need.focus_level
-        end
-    end
-    return value_if_absent
+    local focus_penalty = dfhack.units.getFocusPenalty(unit, CraftObject)
+    return focus_penalty > 1000 and value_if_absent or -focus_penalty
 end
 
 local function stop()
@@ -334,27 +315,6 @@ function canAccessWorkshop(unit, workshop)
     return dfhack.maps.canWalkBetween(unit.pos, workshop_position)
 end
 
----unit is ready to take jobs
----@param unit df.unit
----@return boolean
-function unitIsAvailable(unit)
-    if unit.job.current_job then
-        return false
-    elseif #unit.specific_refs > 0 then -- activities such as "Conduct Meeting"
-        return false
-    elseif #unit.social_activities > 0 then
-        return false
-    elseif #unit.individual_drills > 0 then
-        return false
-    elseif unit.military.squad_id ~= -1 then
-        local squad = df.squad.find(unit.military.squad_id)
-        -- this lookup should never fail
-        ---@diagnostic disable-next-line: need-check-nil
-        return #squad.orders == 0 and squad.activity == -1
-    end
-    return true
-end
-
 ---select crafting job based on available resources
 ---@param workshop df.building_workshopst
 ---@return (fun(unit:df.unit, workshop:df.building_workshopst):boolean)?
@@ -397,7 +357,7 @@ local function processUnit(workshop, idx, unit_id)
     elseif not canAccessWorkshop(unit, workshop) then
         -- dfhack.print('-')
         return false
-    elseif not unitIsAvailable(unit) then
+    elseif not dfhack.units.isJobAvailable(unit) then
         -- dfhack.print('.')
         return false
     end
diff --git a/immortal-cravings.lua b/immortal-cravings.lua
index 21ae333ec..da9f90d76 100644
--- a/immortal-cravings.lua
+++ b/immortal-cravings.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 --@enable = true
 --@module = true
 
-local idle = reqscript('idle-crafting')
 local repeatutil = require("repeat-util")
 
 --- utility functions
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ local function goDrink(unit)
         -- print('no accessible drink found')
         return
     end
-    local job = idle.make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.DrinkItem
     job.flags.special = true
     local dx, dy, dz = dfhack.items.getPosition(drink)
@@ -134,7 +133,7 @@ local function goEat(unit)
     end
     dfhack.items.setOwner(meal, unit)
 
-    local job = idle.make_job()
+    local job = dfhack.job.createLinked()
     job.job_type = df.job_type.Eat
     job.flags.special = true
     local dx, dy, dz = dfhack.items.getPosition(meal)
@@ -148,25 +147,6 @@ local function goEat(unit)
     print(dfhack.df2console('immortal-cravings: %s is getting something to eat'):format(name))
 end
 
----unit is ready to take jobs (will interrupt social activities)
----@param unit df.unit
----@return boolean
-function unitIsAvailable(unit)
-    if unit.job.current_job then
-        return false
-    elseif #unit.individual_drills > 0 then
-        return false
-    elseif unit.flags1.caged or unit.flags1.chained then
-        return false
-    elseif unit.military.squad_id ~= -1 then
-        local squad = df.squad.find(unit.military.squad_id)
-        -- this lookup should never fail
-        ---@diagnostic disable-next-line: need-check-nil
-        return #squad.orders == 0 and squad.activity == -1
-    end
-    return true
-end
-
 --- script logic
 
 local GLOBAL_KEY = 'immortal-cravings'
@@ -210,7 +190,7 @@ local function unit_loop()
         then
             goto next_unit
         end
-        if not unitIsAvailable(unit) then
+        if not dfhack.units.isJobAvailable(unit) then
             debug("immortal-cravings: skipping busy"..dfhack.units.getReadableName(unit))
             table.insert(kept, unit.id)
         else
@@ -245,21 +225,13 @@ local function main_loop()
     watched = {}
     for _, unit in ipairs(dfhack.units.getCitizens(false, false)) do
         if
-            not (is_active_caste_flag(unit, 'NO_DRINK') or is_active_caste_flag(unit, 'NO_EAT')) or
-            unit.counters2.stomach_content > 0
+            (is_active_caste_flag(unit, 'NO_DRINK') or is_active_caste_flag(unit, 'NO_EAT')) and
+            unit.counters2.stomach_content == 0 and
+            dfhack.units.getFocusPenalty(unit, DrinkAlcohol, EatGoodMeal) < threshold
         then
-            goto next_unit
-        end
-        for _, need in ipairs(unit.status.current_soul.personality.needs) do
-            if  need.id == DrinkAlcohol and need.focus_level < threshold or
-                need.id == EatGoodMeal  and need.focus_level < threshold
-            then
-                table.insert(watched, unit.id)
-                debug('  '..dfhack.df2console(dfhack.units.getReadableName(unit)))
-                goto next_unit
-            end
+            table.insert(watched, unit.id)
+            debug('  ' .. dfhack.df2console(dfhack.units.getReadableName(unit)))
         end
-        ::next_unit::
     end
 
     if #watched > 0 then