Comenius project “Improving employability” 4th February 2013 Comenius project “Improving employability” 4th February 2013

EURES SCHELDEMOND REGION up until 30th May 2010

EURES SCHELDEMOND REGION From 1 st June 2010

Founded in 2004 Extended 1st June 2010 to include Provinces of Noord-Brabant & Antwerpen. Approximately 22,000 cross-border workers. Reserved annual European budget Currently 17 partners EURES SCHELDEMOND

Partnership partners Belgian Provinces East- & West-Flanders, Antwerpen and the Dutch Provinces Noord Brabant & Zeeland UWV Werkbedrijf (NL) en VDAB (BE) (Public employment services) Kamer van Koophandel South West NL/Chamber of Commerce Voka Kamer van Handel en Nijverheid West-Flanders (Be) Voka Kamer van Koophandel East-Flanders (Be) Unizo West-Flanders/employers organisation (Be) Unizo East-Flanders/employers organisation (Be) Unizo Kempen region/employers organisation (Be) Unizo Antwerpen-Mechelen region/employers organisation (Be) MKB Zeeland & Brabant/employers organisation (NL) BZW/employers organisation (NL) Interregionale Vakbondsraad Schelde-Kempen/ Trade union (Be & NL)

Main employment sectors in the Euregion Scheldemond: Agriculture (incl. fishing industry): 4% Industry (industries, public and private utility services etc.): 28% Commercial Services (logistics & trade, transport, tourism, hotel and catering industry, communication, financial services etc.): 39% Non-commercial services (education, health and welfare etc.): 30% Labour market

Unemployment is steadily increasing and Zeeland is currently confronted with the financial crisis and recession which has recently led to job losses in industry. Flanders is also confronted with rising levels of unemployment especially amongst men resulting from job losses in industry Reduced demand for workers, decreasing levels of vacancies Employers prefer to take on over qualified candidates for routine, manual and low skilled work Labour market trends

Unemployment Zeeland Average rate of unemployment 4.8% 11,650 Registered jobseekers of which 2,591 registered jobseekers in Zeeuws-Flanders Average rates of unemployment Zeeuws-Flanders: Terneuzen 5.8% Hulst 5.3% Sluis 4.6% Unemployment in Zeeuws-Flanders and educational level: 1,532 jobseekers without formal qualifications to enter the labour market

Unemployment rate Flanders West-Flanders Average rate of unemployment 8.1% registered jobseekers East-Flanders Average rate of unemployment 9% registered jobseekers Educational level Flanders total: 48.4% low skilled/unqualified 12.1% secondary education 13.1% tertiary education

Youth unemployment in Flanders: 17.1% Youth unemployment in Zeeland: 14% Labour market demands are contradictory: – On the one hand an increase in the level of young unemployed persons without basic qualifications – On the other hand an increase in the level of young unemployed persons who are highly qualified and have extreme difficulties finding work Youth unemployment

Flanders Construction engineers, project leaders, packers, ICT professionals, domestic service operatives, health care professionals & social workers, teachers, office managers, chauffeurs, hotel- restaurant- and bar staff. Zeeland Mechanic’s, electrical engineers, industrial process operators, harbour workers, health care workers and paramedics, hotel- restaurant- and bar staff. Source UWV/VDAB Labour market shortages

European developments Massive job losses in construction (one in six), manufacturing, agriculture and industry - Progressive rise in public sector workers, health, education and administration - Overall decline in full time employment and an increase in the creation of part-time jobs - Youth, men and low skilled workers hit hardest by the economic downturn

European developments Youth unemployment Member States varies from 8% to 56% - Transition from education to employment increasingly difficult, for young people with low and high levels of education - Denmark, Ireland, Spain and Greece have instigated measures to tackle youth unemployment - Germany has lowest youth unemployment rate and actively supports the dual system which provides access for every young person to suitable education/training

EURES SCHELDEMOND Flow of cross-border commuters (June 2011) Zeeland, East & West Flanders (3 million inhabitants) Antwerpen (1,7 million inhabitants) Noord-Brabant ( inhabitants) Be-NL: 2,198 NL-Be: 2,885 Be-NL: 11,679 Nl-Be: 2,756 Nl-Be: 2,841 (2008)

EURES SCHELDEMOND Cross border commuters East- & West-Flanders and Zeeland

Flow of Commuters between East- & West-Flanders and Zeeland (2006) EURES SCHELDEMOND REGION

Relatively small-scale incoming and outbound commute. Obstacles for cross-border workers: Extra administration and bureaucracy due to differences in social security, health insurance, tax legislations and pension schemes. Different recruitment procedures within Belgian and Dutch HR-departments. Bottleneck jobs are similar on both sides of the border. Social and cultural differences. Geographical distance to the border and poor public transport links. EURES SCHELDEMOND

Contact EURES Scheldemond Stadhuisplein 1, Terneuzen, The Netherlands Postal address: Postbus 8, 4530 AA Terneuzen Tel: Website: