Evidence-based active labour market policies essential across EU's neighbouring regions
The ETF frequently brings together representatives from its partner countries for knowledge-sharing regarding national policies, current priorities and challenges, in the forms of workshops and panel discussions, one of which earlier in the year focused on the Consolidation of Evidence on Active Labour Market Policies and Transition to Work, which also addressed skills mismatches, the effect of digitalisation, and youth employment initiatives in EU neighbouring countries.
Pilvi Torsti, who had recently taken up the position of ETF Director opened the event held in May 2023 by drawing upon upon her previous professional experience as State Secretary of the Finnish Ministry of Economy and Employment noting:
"Responding to the social, economic and democratic challenges we face evidence-based policymaking in education and training within a lifelong learning is more important than ever to ensure wellbeing, prosperity and a self-determined future for all."
Research insights on evidence in the field of active labour market policies and transition to work in ETF partner countries presented by Cristina Mereuta, ETF Senior Human Capital Development Expert and Ben Kriechel, Senior Researcher at Economix Research & Consulting showed areas requiring improvement
"The frequency of statistical production, analysis, and reporting, as well as the shortage of staff allocated for these tasks needs to be addressed," said Mereuta, adding that the reliance on external projects is often a contributor to fragmented datasets.
"Labour ministries and public employment services in developing and transition countries should strive to develop comprehensive monitoring frameworks and collaborate with donors to align various projects targeting jobseekers under the same reporting umbrella," concluded Mereuta.
Thus, Representatives from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan and Palestine, reflected on different policies and measures introduced towards evidence collection for active labour market policies given common challenges from a regional-geographical perspective in countries of Central Asia, the Eastern Partnership region, South Eastern Europe and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean notwithstanding the diversity in terms of data availability, indicator definitions, and statistical practices related to active labour market policies.
Outlining the results of a study on skills mismatches in ETF partner countries and the preliminary results of the most recent European Skills and Jobs Survey led by the ETF's sister agency, Cedefop, in EU member states, Mircea Badescu, ETF Human Capital Development Statistician, explained that one-third of all employed adults, and up to 40% of young people are overqualified for the jobs they hold.
"When it comes to digitalisation and upskilling, most top-end workers feel both a threat to job security and a need for continued learning. However, worryingly, the findings also showed that the majority of unskilled workers surveyed appear unaware of the potential for change or any need to improve their digital skills," said Badescu.
Youth employment
Ratka Babic, Team Leader, Employment and Social Affairs Platform, Regional Cooperation Council, presented the use of data to advance the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) which borrows from the EU's programme that aims to ensure that all young people under the age of 30 receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or traineeship within four months after completing their education.
Youth unemployment rate has reached the double of that for the overall population. One in four young individuals gets categorised into the NEET group (not in employment, education, or training). Some have abandoned their home countries, further fuelling the region’s “notorious brain drain” among “highly skilled and educated young people”. Others may work in the informal sector.
“They're not reached by the public employment services,” she said. “They're not actively looking for employment. They’re nowhere to be found.”
Data from youth unemployment studies in the Western Balkans has supported the development of a series of recommendations for the region developed in partnership with the ETF.
Returning to the words of ETF Director Torsti, experience shared from throughout the EU's neighbouring regions confirmed that developing skills intelligence with a good quality evidence base is one of the critical components to ensure that young people especially are reached.