Description
Country
Focus area
The initiative is aimed at matching the skills of employed, unemployed and inactive persons with the needs of employers.
The initiative involves a mix of vocational and key competency training preceding the hiring of unemployed/inactive persons. For the latter, once hired, a follow-up vocational training is available.
The initiative addresses the skills mismatch in the sectors of Manufacturing, Construction and Accommodation and food service activities, caused by the relatively high personnel turnover and hence many job vacancies, caused by the varying intensity of activity of companies in these sectors.
The initiative involves a mix of vocational and key competency training preceding the hiring of unemployed/inactive persons. For the latter, once hired, a follow-up vocational training is available.
The initiative addresses the skills mismatch in the sectors of Manufacturing, Construction and Accommodation and food service activities, caused by the relatively high personnel turnover and hence many job vacancies, caused by the varying intensity of activity of companies in these sectors.
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
Decision for Approval of the Evaluation Report No.РД 05-78/03.07.2017 based on art. 36 of the Management of the Resources of the European Structural and Investment Funds Act, of the Director of the Managing Authority - DG European Funds, International Programmes and Projects at the MLSP. Weblink to decision: https://esf.bg/procedures/gavkavi-vazmozhnosti-za-zaetost-i-obucheniya-…
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
2017 - 2018
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
Curricula are selected to provide: a) training for unemployed and inactive people to find employment in the three targeted sectors that have skills shortages and b) re-training of employed persons to achieve better skills matching.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by the EU
European Social Fund
Other
Operational Programme Human Resources Development
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Underqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are below their job's needs)
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
VET/key competences training of inactive/unemployed/employed of inactive/unemployed young secondary school and university graduates
VET/key competences training of employed individuals
VET/key competences training of inactive/unemployed individuals
Uses VET/key competence training of inactive/unemployed/employed to address the skills mismatch in the covered sectors
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Basic literacy and numeracy skills
Basic digital skills
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Employer surveys
Semi-annual employer survey of skill needs conducted by the NEA
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
LMI was used to identify the initiative's target sectors and inform job-searchers therein for available training and employment opportunities
LMI was used to identify the initiative's target sectors and support upskilling/reskilling business decisions at enterprise level
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National ministry
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National ministry
MLSP was involved in the initiative's design, funding and monitoring
Training Providers
Involved in the VET/key competence training provision
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Young people making the transition from education into work
Have been involved in VET/key competences training
Young people with low levels of basic skills /early leavers from education or training
Have been involved in VET/key competences training
Adults with low basic skills
Have been involved in VET/key competences training
Adults in employment with upskilling potential
Have been involved in VET/key competences training
Adults in employment with reskilling potential
Have been involved in VET/key competences training
Other
Employers from 3 specific sectors: Manufacturing, Construction and Accommodation and food service activities - better skills matching
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
Flexibility for employers comes through choosing the periods in which their
future employees will be trained; and the periods, in which their
employees will be able to apply their newly acquired or advanced
skills and qualifications.
future employees will be trained; and the periods, in which their
employees will be able to apply their newly acquired or advanced
skills and qualifications.
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
Outcome Indicators: involved unemployed and inactive persons.
Result indicators: unemployed/inactive persons acquiring qualification; persons acquiring new/keeping existing jobs.
No information on the progress of these indicators is available in the Annual Reports on the Implementation of OP HRD.
Result indicators: unemployed/inactive persons acquiring qualification; persons acquiring new/keeping existing jobs.
No information on the progress of these indicators is available in the Annual Reports on the Implementation of OP HRD.
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
No
There have been no updates on the initiative, since it was commenced in 2017
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
A total of 62 grant contracts have been signed under the operation. No reports on the operation's effectiveness are available
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
At present, it is not clear whether the operation will have further calls for proposals in the 2021-2027 programming period. Thus, its future is uncertain, as the operation relies heavily on ESF funds (85% of total finding).
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