EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Make Way for Work

Make Way for Work - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Introduction

Problem

How to tackle the mismatch in the labour market in Amsterdam?

The city of Amsterdam is encouraging greater mobility in the labour market in order to clear the way for new jobs. Employers are eligible for subsidy if they develop initiatives that can stimulate employment. The programme involves several city hall departments: Economic Affairs, Work & Income and the Amsterdam Port Authority.

Description

he project was set up to tackle the problems that emerged from a survey of employers. Employers think the regulations change too often and that when they advertise jobs there are too many applications from unsuitable candidates.

The city supports a variety of initiatives that can contribute to the strengthening of the economic structure. In this context Amsterdam invests eight million euros a year in measures designed to strengthen the economic structure by creating employment, in particular for unskilled and semi-skilled workers.

Approach

The initiatives that Make Way for Work has developed include:

A 'vacancy service point' for employers;
Experiments with wage subsidies;
A recognised placement firm for employers who are willing to participate but lack the capacity for mentoring;
A project to provide advice on working with a handicap: the project is aimed specifically at improving job opportunities for those with a handicap or suffering chronic illness;
Training material straight from the shop floor: development of a training programme in which the concrete practical training takes place on location at participating shops;
'Resto_ ranje': a project set up by a restaurateur that offers unemployed people the chance of learning catering and service-providing tasks in a learn-and-work enterprise;
An 'enterprise house' and starters centre where unskilled and semi-skilled workers can learn how to set up in business on their own;
Demand-led job vacancies provision and training in the North Sea Canal area, aiming to help Amsterdam residents fill vacancies in the port of Amsterdam;
Study & Work Arena: developing a network to offer school-leavers at all levels either work or a combination of learning and work. Employers are guaranteed an organisation that will relieve them of as much of the burden as possible while the project lasts;
Amsterdam daughters for Moroccan mothers: a project to promote the participation of Moroccan women in the Amsterdam district of Geuzenveld-Slotermeer. Many of these women have been in the Netherlands for years but their level of participation is often extremely low;
Side by Side to work with the mentally handicapped: a project to promote participation in the labour market by young people with (mainly mild) mental handicaps and/or behavioural difficulties;
From ageing to diversity: a project to promote the influx and career development of ethnic minorities in the labour market and the strengthening of effective policy for ethnic diversity.

Results

The prospects for RUIMbaan are good, but at the time of writing, there are no concrete results to be reported. In general, it is expected that the project will

Strengthen the economic structure in order to promote the creation of new jobs, particularly for young people, unskilled workers, new entrants and those in starter jobs;
Stimulate occupational mobility in the labour market.

Contact info

City of Amsterdam - Economic Affairs Amsterdam
Phone: +31 20 5522953
ruimbaan@ez.amsterdam.nl

Project start date

29/11/2004

Links

City of Amsterdam - Economic Affairs Amsterdam

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Employment