Section |
Indication of content |
Title of the practice |
Collaboration with public employment services to improve labour-market matching. |
Precise theme/issue tackled by the practice |
1) Changes in the regional economy (displacement of jobs for low-qualified persons) have led to much higher and more specified requirements by regional companies. Counsellors of public employment agencies had found it hard to keep up with the changes and lacked up-to-date knowledge about economic developments. 2) In the region of Mechelen there’s a high amount of unemployed people belonging to priority groups (foreigners / immigrants, disabled persons and people over 50). |
Objectives of the practice |
1) Reduce the mismatch of the labour market by improving the skills of counsellors of public labour services. 2) Increase proportional participation of priority groups in our regional labor market. |
Location |
Mechelen region, Belgium |
Detailed description of the practice |
Staff of RESOC had first analysed:
» the most important sectors of Mechelen’s economy. » those sectors with the highest growth, e.g. where new labour forces were needed (including ‘bottleneck’ vacancies). Together with business representatives, they elaborated a training for counsellors of public labour services to build their capacities. This training consisted of two parts: a more theoretical workshop for counsellors and some fieldtrips to companies working with bottleneck vacancies. A brochure with practical tips and questions to be asked to match unemployed with (bottleneck) vacancies in the region helps counsellors to make the right match. |
Evaluation |
The outside training was seen very positive by the Flemish labour services (VDAB) who agreed to continue these training sessions in the future. |
Lessons learnt from the practice |
Capacity building training from local bodies can be very helpful when public employment services from a higher administrative level fail to satisfy local demands. |
Relevant factors/conditions for the transfer of the good practice |
A good insight into the regional labour market is essential: which are growing economical sector, what are characteristics of unemployed, …? Working with intermediary organizations helps to make contacts between companies and regional labour services to increase the chances of a successful action. |
Implementing organisations |
VDAB Mechelen. |
Contact information |
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Other possible interesting information |
Support brochure |