hessian ministry of economics, transport, urban and regional development different approaches of the...

Hessian Ministry of Economics, Transport,Urban and Regional Development

Different approaches of the State of

Hessen to adapt labour and qualification

conditions to demographic changes

Dr. Norbert Mager, Head of Section

“Planning Information, Prognosis,

Statistics”

Conference ‘Regions for economic change: Regional Policy responses to demographic challenges’

Brussels – 25/26 January 2007

Germany

Hessen

Hessian Ministry of Economics, TransportUrban and Regional Development

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Demographic changes have an important impact on the economic development

Shortage of labour in the next decades.

Particularly shortage of highly skilled and flexible young persons able to rapidly adapt to technical and economic changes.

Average age of employees will rise considerably.

Difficulties to ensure the dynamics of innovation and economic growth.

Employment rates of certain groups (women, older employees) have to be raised.

Education and qualification are key elements to meet demographic challenges.

Number of children of well-qualified persons has to increase.


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Different impact of demographic changes on regions

• The regional differences related to population development and aging will increase considerably.

• This could also lead to further increasing differentiation in the economic performance of regions (vicious circle).

Regional policy has to take into account the regional aspects of demographic changes.

Regions have to develop their own concepts to meet the challenges (e.g. to support families with children in order to raise local birth rates, to attract employees, especially younger ones with high qualification, to prevent out-migration, to raise the employment rates of women and older people).


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Participation of people in the labour market has to be increased

Participation of women

Participation of older persons

Increase of the number of employees

Especially of those with a high qualification

improvement of the qualification

Full utilization of the existing economic potential

Increase of the number of employees,

especially of those with a high qualificationImprovement of qualification


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Project No. 1: Dialogue with company leaders on the forthcoming demographic changes

• to inform companies about the forthcoming demographic changes and to get to know their intentions and their objectives

• to develop measures to prevent unemployment among older persons

The Educational Institution of the Hessian Employers’ Federation had several meetings and dialogues with leading representatives of 9 companies.

Moreover, an international workshop took place with representatives from 10 EU countries and another workshop was held with a French scientific agency in co-operation with Deutsche Bank AG.

A future-oriented scenario for the participating companies was developed, reflecting active strategies and initiatives to respond to the forthcoming changes.

Duration: July 2003 – July 2005

The project was financed by the European Social Fund, the Hessian Employers’ Federation and the State of Hessen.


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Project No. 2: A “Demographic Changes” section was added to the existing Advisory Bureau for Qualification of Employees

Advisory Bureau for Qualification of Employees has placed a special focus on “Preventive measures for older persons”.

Transfer of the results of the dialogue with the companies.

The objective is to prepare companies and employees to cope with the consequences of demographic changes. A demographic analysis for the company is based on a special IT tool which analyses current and future age structures. The qualification requirements for older employees are checked; reliable and suitable qualification elements are applied. This leads to a far better long-term planning of staff development within the framework of demographic changes.

The project is conducted during 2006 and 2007.

Financed by the European Social Fund, the Hessian Employers’ Federation and the State of Hessen.


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Project No. 3: Improving the conditions for a better use of competences, experience and knowledge of older employees

to create an awareness for the importance of qualification and knowledge transfer of older employees in the companies

to demonstrate to companies the possibilities of training and qualifying older employees

to compare the demand for and the supply of qualifying measures

to support companies in developing qualification concepts

to enable older employees to adapt their attitudes and their qualifications to the changing economic world

The idea is to enable companies to use and develop the competences of older employees. Therefore the main objectives of the project are:


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Project No. 3: Improving the conditions for a better use of competences, experience and knowledge of older employees

Pilot project in the area of one Hessian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Participation of about 10 small and medium-sized companies as core participants; older employees and training institutions are included.

An additional number of companies participates in individual events (e.g. workshops).

Duration: October 2005 – March 2007

Workshops with special topics take place, e.g. transfer of knowledge between older and younger employees, staff development and qualification measures for older employees.

Financed by the European Social Fund, The Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Dillenburg, the State of Hessen and the participating companies.


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Project No. 4: A 10-years campaign to introduce family-oriented measures to increase local birth rates

Two towns with different living and working conditions were selected for a Hessian pilot project:Frankenberg - situated in a typical rural area in the north-west of Hessen

Buedingen - situated in the greater region of Frankfurt

In 2006 specific concepts for the two towns were developed to introduce different measures aimed at raising local birth rates.

In both towns the list of measures will include - among others - initiatives to improve the work-life-balance of employees and the participation of women in the labour market.

Frankenberg develops – among others - measures concerning local companies: Creation of part-time jobs, increasing the flexibility of working hours, implementing job-sharing opportunities, offering childcare options etc.

A main goal of Buedingen is to shift jobs from the centre of the agglomeration to the rural area in order to avoid commuting with its negative impact on families (“work is coming home”).


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Project No. 5: Improvement of childcare facilities in companies and universities, planned for the new operational programme 2007-2013

Financial support for investment in childcare facilities by the European Regional Development Fund is intended with the new Operational Programme “Regional Competitiveness and Employment”.

The further intention is to develop concepts on how to organize childcare in companies and universities and the expenses for the staff of childcare facilities are going to be supported by the European Social Fund and the State of Hessen.

With these measures the working and studying conditions for persons in need of childcare will be improved. This will lead to higher employment rates and better qualifications, particularly of women.

The financial assistance will be provided only if public childcare is not available (e.g. in Germany: for children under 3 years of age or childcare beyond the normal working hours).


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State ofHessen

Chambers ofIndustry andCommerce

EU-Funds

Privatecompanies

Traininginstitutions

Employees

Local authorities

UniversitiesJoint efforts

to adapt labour and qualification conditions

to demographic changes

HessianEmployers‘Federation

hessian ministry of economics, transport, urban and regional development different approaches of the...

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