Ten organisations recently agreed to participate in the Passport4Work project in Eindhoven. Passport4Work aims to address the conflict between high economic growth in technical sectors in the Brainport region and an increasing gap between low-skilled jobseekers and the labour market.
Last October the European Commission pledged 4.9m to fund the project, which aims to place at least 200 jobseekers in employment and 600 others in tailored educational programs within 3 years. It will also ensure at least 1500 jobseekers have a filled-out skills passport that will qualify as a basis for recruitment by 75 employers.
While the economy in the south-east Netherlands has seen significant growth recently, in part due to a thriving high-tech manufacturing industry, figures also show an increasing gap between jobseekers and the labour market as well as reduced employability for existing opportunities.
Passport4Work hopes to encourage a new way of thinking for both jobseekers and employers and make it easier for workers to switch careers. One element of the project is the development of a ‘skills passport’ based on gamification, which jobseekers can use to improve and test their skills in an appealingly informal way.
“The job market today requires more insight and other skills among jobseekers to align with available opportunities. Through this project, we and our partners are taking a step towards making that possible”, said Councillor Yasin Torunoglu.
The mutual rights and obligations of organisations taking part in the project have been laid out in a partnership agreement following recent talks. Ten partners are currently involved in the Passport4Work project – the municipality, Organiq, Building Changes, the Province of Noord-Brabant, Transvorm, WIJeindhoven, MKB Eindhoven, GRWRE, Tilburg University, and the UWV.
Other organisations working closely with the project partners include 04Werkt, Brainport Development, Summa College, the TU/e, CINOP, Gaan in de Bouw, and VNO-NCW.
By Nicola W
Sources: Gemeente Eindhoven, UIA
