Employment policy and integration
We presume a potential multiple goal orientiation of this field: depending on its design and framework employment policy may individually be aimed at the work integration and social inclusion of unemployed people as well as having positive effects for the development of the community and local economy.
In this broader sense, employment policy should not be designed and used to prevent the utilisation of social services and income support, but rather to open up individual opportunities to the unemployed and to generate new employment possibilities. Beside approaches to promote workintegration in the "first labour market" this demands the creation of protected employment possibilities in not-for-profit organisations, individually taylored qualification measures and finally the offer of assistance with wider social inclusion needs.
In various projects Zoom e.V. has dealt with employment policy and has contributed significantly to the development and discussion of prospective concepts. The field of employment policy is currently and will continue to be a vital part of our work.
Currently we adress employment policy approaches for certain target groups: Since several years Zoom e.V. has been concerned with the labour market situation of elderly people following the question how to design active labour market policy for them. Within the framework of a regional employment pact for people beyond 50 in Lower Saxony we are in charge of the evaluation of measures for elderly unemployed people. Further we take part in the setup of a transition management from school to work particularly for disatvantaged youth. On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health we analyse which approaches for the integration of addicted are nationwide followed by the job centers.
Current projects:
Study: Work integration of social security recipients with addictions
On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health Zoom e.V. conducts a survey of best-practice for the work integration of social security recipients with addictions.
Managing school to work transition at a regional level
In cooperation with the Adult Education Centre Göttingen (Volkshochschule) and the Employment Promotion Agency Göttingen (Beschäftigungsförderung kAöR) Zoom e.V. strives to establish the regional management for the school to work transition. The project runs until 2012 and is funded by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund.
Coalition for jobs II
Zoom e.V. evaluates the implementation of the “regional coalition for jobs for people over fifty” in the southern part of Lower Saxony. The programme is funded by the Federal Ministry of Work in the context of the national programme “prospects 50plus – regional coalitions for jobs”.
Evaluation of the project “Work in Grone – Work for Grone”
Grone is a part of the city of Göttingen. The project “Work in Grone – Work for Grone” is implemented by the Employment Promotion Agency Göttingen (Beschäftigungs-förderung kAöR) and funded by the programme BIWAQ. Zoom e.V. is responsible for the evaluation of the project.
Completed projects:
Employment Compact for Older People int the Region of Göttingen
Zoom e.V. will work together with 29 organisations in the Employment Compact "50plus - experience you can count on!". With scientific studies, integration and prevention the Compact will improve the employment situation of older people in the region of Göttingen.
PUSH - Public Subsidised Employment in Europe
PUSH initiates an exchange on the possibilities and framework of publicly supported employment. Under the management of the Lawaetz foundation, Zoom e.V. organises with further partners national and international workshops on the topic between February and September 2006.
EMDELA - The emerging design of local labour market integration
Zoom e.V. co-operates with the University of Giessen (project supervisor: Prof. Evers) in a four country comparative study and looks at how active labour market policy can help to overcome poverty with regionalized employment policies.
Conference "Employment Policy in Communities - How Do We Continue?"
The discussion on changes in local employment policy resulting out of the "Hartz" labour market policy reform and on the options remaining for local intervention were the focus of this national conference.
Project "Instruments & Effects"
The connection of employment policy and support for a social and cultural infrastructure and its employment potential were both points of departure and arrival of this EU-funded project.
Project "Jobs and Sports"
The evaluation of the Leonardo project "job & sports" documents and considers approaches designed to increase the employability of disadvantaged youth through sports.
Contact: Nils Pagels