The role of the ESF and social partners in identifying links between labour market skills to labour market needs

Transcription

1 The role of the ESF and social partners in identifying links between labour market skills to labour market needs Karen Roiy Senior political advisor, Confederation of Danish Employers

2 Percent Youth unemployment in percent

3 Creating the link between labour market skills and labour market needs Dual education creates the links between labour market skillls and labour market needs: Combination of training in school and in a company Company has knowldge of labour market skills need and provides the young person with the right skills needed in the labour market

4 The Danish VET system After primary education, Danish students can choose between a wide variety of trades within the VET system Students alternate between school and practical training 2/3 of the training in companies 1/3 in VET schools Companies are an integral part of the system taking on apprentices and participating in the ongoing development of the VET system

5 Social partners involvement VET governance Centrally Locally Parliament Ministries Committees School Boards Legislation Framework Content Guidelines Education plan VET council School org. Social partners Decision maker Product Counselor

6 Advantages of the dual VET system VET creates links between education and employment and secures smooth transition into employment Low unemployment among VET-graduates Enterpeneurship is widespread among VET-graduates Companies hire VET students because: Employing VET students is a unique source of recruitment for companies VET students contribute to production VET students contribute with new impetetus to the company VET students are a skilled workforce

7 Role of the ESF in securing link ESF can fund initial costs in setting up a dual education system This has already been incorporated in the ESFregulation Now it s time to influence on a national level through the partnership agreements

8 Letter from BUSINESSEUROPE Dear Sir, Madam, Member States are currently preparing their partnership agreements and operational programmes of thematic priorities for European Structural and Investment Funds for the period This includes, in particular, the European Social Fund (ESF). I am bringing this to your attention as now is the time to influence the partnership agreements and operational programmes in line with our priorities for the allocation of ESF funds. To recall our main priorities, I attach the joint letter of the European social partners that was sent in May From an employer s perspective we would like to highlight the issue of allocating a share of ESF resources to support Member States that are willing to establish, reform or expand a dual-learning apprenticeship system. Several analyses indicate that combining school and work based experiences throughout studies facilitates a smoother transition into the labour market. BUSINESSEUROPE advocates the dual-learning apprenticeship approach and has previously published an assessment of the value of such systems as well as a series of recommendations to EU and national level actors: Member states are to submit draft partnership agreements and operational programmes for before July Therefore, employers that wish to push for the development of dual vocational education with support from the ESF should act now. In doing so you might want to liaise with your trade union counterparts to see if it could be possible to jointly push for including action on apprenticeships as a priority for the partnership agreement and operational programmes. A joint call by employers and trade unions would help to make a stronger case for this. The attached letter can be used as a basis for this. Furthermore, the Commission published last year position papers for each member state on the issues that they might want to focus on in their partnership agreements and operational programmes. In some cases these papers directly refer to dual-learning, which could also be used to make the case for including actions on this in the respective agreements and programmes. You can consult the position papers for each member state on line: Finally, I would also remind you that the Commission has set up a helpdesk for tailor-made advice services on apprenticeship and traineeship schemes. This service is targeted at policy makers, ESF managing authorities and social partners that seek advice on setting up new apprenticeship and traineeship schemes or running, improving and evaluating existing ones. The helpdesk will provide strategic, operational and policy advice to set up coherent policies and programmes and is available until the end of Further details are available on the Commission s website:

9 What s needed to set-up a dual system? Social partners must be involved Companies must be able to see the benefits A precondition for companies supply of apprenticeships is qualified apprentices In return companies must ensure contracts with clear learning goals