1. Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits
organisers –
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010
Promoting active inclusion: EU policy
developments and Cedefop’s contribution
Mara Brugia, Head of Area Enhanced cooperation in VET and LLL
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 1

2. Low-qualified people…
EU27- Changes in employment by highest level of education attained
( % change)
Social exclusion of 2008Q4-2009Q4 -2.5
-2.0
2.6
vulnerable groups often -8.1
-5.9
linked to low qualifications 3.1
3.6
2007Q4-2008Q4 0.6
-2.7
-6.2
4.0
1.4
2006Q4-2007Q4 2.4
Unemployment rates by qualifications and -0.4
incidence of long term to total unemployment (EU27 - 2008)
-3.0
45.0%
-10.0 -8.0 -6.0 -4.0 -2.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0
40.0% 39.0%
37.1%
Less than lower secondary Lower secondary Upper secondary Post secondary non tertiary Tertiary
35.0% N.B.: short VET programmes incl. in lower secondary
30.0% 28.8%
25.0%
…have been hit hardest
20.0%
15.0%
by the crisis +
11.2%
10.0%
5.0% 3.9%
6.5%
are generally more
0.0%
Unenployment rate Incidence Long Term
likely to be jobless
HIGH MEDIUM LOW Source: Cedefop's calculation on Eurostat data
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 2

3. Low-qualified people…
…face higher risk of poverty
400
350
300
250
200
150
100 Medium skilled
baseline =100
50
0
BG CY M T CZ AT RO SI PT SK BE HU UK LT IE IT LU LV EU27 ES EE DE EL SE FR PL FI DK NL
Relat ive povert y risk of low and high skilled (medium skilled risk of povert y =100) Low skilled High skilled
Source: Eurostat, Cedefop calculations
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 3

4. Promoting active inclusion through education and
training high in EU policy agenda
• Council Conclusions on a strategic framework for European
cooperation in education and training ("ET 2020") – 12 May 2009
• Europe 2020 – “A European strategy for smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth” – 3 March 2010 (COM(2010) 2020)
• Council Conclusions on the social dimension of education and
training - 11 May 2010
• Commission’s Communication on ‘A new impetus for European
cooperation in Vocational Education and Training to support the
Europe 2020 strategy’ – 9 June 2010 – COM(2010) 296 final
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 4

5. Qualification demands are rising
• Demand for highly qualified jobs expected to rise
from 29% to 35% (+16 million)
• Demand of jobs for medium level qualified people
expected to stabilise at around 50%
• Demand of jobs for those with low qualifications
expected to drop from 20% to 15% (-12 million)
Better opportunities for the better qualified in all
occupations
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 5

6. Youth unemployment
In a Europe where the proportion of
young people is decreasing
• 20.6% of young people under 25 registered as unemployed in
April 2010 (EU 27)
• amounts to 5.5 million
• an increase of 1.5 million since March 2008
• Spain and the Baltic countries with 30-40% youth unemployment
• Germany, Austria and the Netherlands between 7 and 11%
• Average unemployment for 25-74 year olds 7.9%
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 6

7. Social inclusion in current VET policies
More emphasis on inclusion
• Focus on early school leavers, low skilled, older
workers, migrants
• Focus on measures to prepare for transitions,
manage change, make education and training
more easily accessible
• Trend towards enhanced cross-sectoral and
multi-professional network-based cooperation
Shared vision for the future socially inclusive
lifelong learning systems and labour markets
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 7

8. Support measures for young people at risk of social
exclusion: lifelong guidance
Review of guidance measures to support school completion and
education-to-work transitions of young people who risk dropping
out of mainstream education and training
(EU 27, NO, IS, HR, FYROM, TR)
2 examples
• Support education to work transition
school and work alternation in secondary
schools (Italy)
• Support school completion: guidance to prevent early school
leaving
parental involvement (Ireland)
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 8

9. Support measures for young people at risk of social
exclusion: lifelong guidance
Key messages:
• Coordinated approaches must be combined with
outreach work to reach hardest-to-help groups
• Initial and continuing teacher training part of overall policy
approach to encourage school completion
• Parental involvement plays a key role in supporting
young people in education and training
• Tailored approaches needed
Guidance key ingredient in policies that aim to support
transition and reduce costs (social and economic) of early
school leaving
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 9

10. Support measures to promote inclusion
Anticipate skill needs and supply long-term skill strategies
communicate benefits of better skills to citizens and employers
Focus and draw on what people know and can do
Better use of skills and more opportunities to stretch skills at work
Documentation of skills skills portfolio
Valuing skills acquired through work and life
competence-based assessment for further learning and
recognition
Bringing the worlds of education & training and work together
New partnerships (incl. employment/social services, civic
organisations)
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 10

11. Education and training and social inclusion
Education and training play a prominent role in
promoting labour market and social inclusions but
cannot be the sole remedy.
To make inclusion real, need for integrated
education and training, employment, economic
and social policies.
Countries increasingly integrating guidance and
validation into their policies to support vulnerable
groups BUT …more needs to be done.
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 11

12. Education and training and social inclusion
Wider and more flexible cooperation and partnerships
even more crucial than before
Social partners have a key role to play
More holistic approach needed to ensure inclusion
through education and training
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 12

13. More information: Cedefop’s reports on
Skills supply and demand
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/Files/3052_en.pdf
Guiding at-risk youth through learning to work
http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/Files/5503_en.pdf
‘Policy report’ (VET policy since 2002)
to be published in December 2010
Thank you for your attention
Knowledge-sharing seminar for study visits organisers,
Thessaloniki, 24-25 June 2010 13