What challenges do PES face in profiling NEETs?
During the third semester of Atwork4NEETs, which is now coming to an end, analysis and discussions about NEETs' profiling led us to several interesting findings. We are thrilled to share one the most relevant finding of this semester: the challenges faced by PES in profiling NEETs.
By analyzing the practices applicable at the partnership level, in the complex process of profiling young NEETs, several challenges have been identified in which the PES needs to identify adaptation measures and new directions of action to increase the accessibility of young NEETs to the labor market and thus the employability of this vulnerable group.
One of the main challenges is to supplement specialized and complementary human resources with professional profiles adapted to the different requirements of the complex NEETs profiling process.This involves not only PES staff, but also psychologists, school counselors, coaches, and career counselors. Some of the partner countries involved in the project emphasized the insufficient human resources currently involved in NEETs profiling. This concerns the human resources involved in profiling NEETs, as well as counseling them and monitoring their progress after profiling.
Funding NEETs profiling services is also a challenge both in terms of sustaining the costs for the diverse human resources involved (psychologists, school counselors, career counselors, etc.) and in terms of the technical support (IT applications) needed for a smooth operation. The human resources involved from the PES and partner institutions also need to be continually upgraded to meet the various contemporary challenges of the labor market, marked by the freedom of movement of workers/migration, demographic trends (e.g. falling birth rate, continuous aging of the population) and, last but not least, the promotion of alternative and flexible models of starting and running a business.
The development of IT tools adapted to the NEETs profiling process is another challenge. From this perspective, inter-institutional collaborations are envisaged. These partnerships support the mobilization of all stakeholders involved in NEETs profiling at local, regional, and national levels, with a long-term impact on NEETs integration. This collaboration involves information sharing, both at the level of human resources and interconnected databases. For example, PES databases are interconnected with the databases of educational establishments at all levels and even with those of institutions with financial responsibilities. We also underline the constraints related to the exchange of databases regarding GDPR compliance for NEETs.
Closely linked to this, there is a permanent need to improve the accuracy of labor market statistics, as well as the frequency with which these data are collected so that they better reflect reality, to facilitate job matching.
Another challenge is the potential lack of an NEETs outreach strategy developed at the regional or national level. The role of the PES in the NEETs profiling process is directly influenced by the existence of such a strategy, that is potentially regulated at the national level. The structure and planning of the available budget (state, local, or other sources) directly influence the type of activities that can be carried out. From this point of view, it is welcome that extensive information and awareness-raising campaigns for NEETs can play a significant role in profiling and activating them, with a long-term impact on improving their quality of life.
Profiling NEETs poses a challenge in terms of continuous adaptation to contemporary demands. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, online means of communication have been developed and made available to NEETs. The profiling practice may contain both the initial elements of building a general employability picture and risk analysis, particularly for the hard-to-employ long-term unemployed. Other elements include personalized action plans and vocational tests (including self-application). Preventive measures to identify potential NEETs include continuous assessment and monitoring of the risk of school dropout and exam promotion.
Another challenge is the continuity of activities started within the framework of projects with European funding, which, due to lack of resources, are not taken over and continued after the projects are completed, thus losing the information, knowledge, and skills gained.
The challenges identified through the project represents a great obstacle in the process of analyzing and improving public policies dedicated to young NEETs. We need to find responses to this challenges, in order to efficiently respond to the needs of new generations in contemporary European society.
Through the past and future project activities, we work in order to find these solutions and to improve NEETs public policies.
In the next semesters we will update you with new findings, responses and good practices.