To solve the mismatch between employee development goals, jobseekers and the needs of a quickly changing labour market, skills-oriented career programmes and matching tools have been created in the Amsterdam Metropolitan area.
Lifelong learning programme in Amsterdam: towards a skills-oriented labour market
- 24 June 2019
We provide a shared skills vocabulary for working people and jobseekers, vocational training programmes and jobs, creating a common ground for a skills-based labour market. For a future that works.
he House of Skills project is giving employees and job seekers more control over their career choices by promoting lifelong development, experimenting with skills-matching, and developing skills, so they are prepared for future labour market changes.
The project has concluded regional skills agreements with more than 120 public and private organisations. The Foundation for Cooperation on Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market provides a qualification structure for the vocational training. So far 738 participants have taken part in the programme. Participants’ development continues after they have found work, preparing them for the future.
Responding to demand
An analysis of the regional labour market was carried out to better understand demand. Partnerships were created with social partners, knowledge and educational institutions, labour unions, branch organisations, job centres, employer associations such as the Employee Insurance Agency, and public authorities. These partnerships developed pilot skills-oriented career programmes which include assessment and competence tests, career advice and skills training. The project focusses primarily on social challenges such as the energy transition, housing challenges, circular economy and healthcare.
A tool is being developed for the skill-based assessment as well as education-employment matching. An online platform called ‘Mijnhouseofskills’ will help to match employers and employees. The project also has entry courses for professions that struggle with employee shortages. Employers specify the skills they need and job seekers state what skills they already possess, and whether they are willing to develop the requested additional skills.
Employers develop skills
On top of the 120 Regional Skills Agreements signed, over 60 collaborations have taken place, whereby employers and relevant parties agree to develop skills in their sectors. In one such collaboration, companies, employees and educational institutions are working on a skills passport at Schiphol airport, which describes skills needed now and in the future. The partners determine together what education, development or mobility is needed to close the skills gap. The aim is to improve the supply and demand of labour at the airport.
A designated area has been created in the Amsterdam library where visitors can get free career advice, discover developments in the labour market and find personal opportunities. Reaching out on a more national level to share knowledge of the programme, 25 working visits have been planned and cooperation has taken place with the Eindhoven and Rotterdam regions.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “House of Skills” is EUR 11 200 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 3 738 972 through the “West Netherlands” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Employment and labour market”.