Heike Behle

Literature Review on Employability, Inclusion and ICT, Report 1: The Concept of employability, with a specific focus on Young people, older workers and migrants

IPTS has launched a research project on how ICT can support employability, in the context of its policy support activities for the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy, and the Digital Agenda for Europe. As a first step, JRC-IPTS contracted the Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick, UK to prepare: a) a review of the literature on employability, its dimensions and the factors which affect it in general and for groups at risk of exclusion, namely migrants, youth and older workers; and b) a report on how ICT contribute to employability, support the reduction of barriers and create pathways to employment for all and also for the three specific groups at risk of exclusion. This report presents the findings of the first part of the research.

Moderators and mediators on the mental health of young participants in active labour market programmes : evidence from East and West Germany

This article addresses the mental health of young people taking part in an active labour market programme (ALMP). The subject of the paper follows the demand for research on the ‘permanent impermanence’ identified as a situation characterized by shifting in between different labour market training programmes, unemployment and odd jobs. The research on which the article draws was an evaluation study of an active labour market programme in Germany, known as JUMP. The article uses data derived from a participants’ survey and addresses the following questions: How can the mechanism of ALMP and mental health be described? What affects young people within an ALMP? Are there any differences according to the density of the surrounding labour market? Previous research has explored the impact of unemployment on mental health. This article investigates the possible impact of ALMP, referring to the complex relationship between the density of the labour market and young peoples mental health. It then applies data derived from the JUMP participants’ survey to explore the influence on young people. The impact of the density of the surrounding labour market is addressed by separating the available data into East and West German participants. The article finally compares the research findings from young participants in an ALMP with previous research on unemployed young people and concludes with differences between East and West German young people.

Literature review on employability, inclusion and ICT, report 2 : ICT and employability

IPTS has launched a research project on how ICT can support employability, in the context of its policy support activities for the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy, and the Digital Agenda for Europe. As a first step, JRC-IPTS contracted the Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick, UK to prepare: a) a review of the literature on employability, its dimensions and the factors which affect it in general and for groups at risk of exclusion, namely migrants, youth and older workers; and b) a report on how ICT contribute to employability, support the reduction of barriers and create pathways to employment for all and also for the three specific groups at risk of exclusion. This report presents the findings of the second part of the research.

The early career paths of UK educated Intra-European mobile graduates

Abstract Students and graduates alike are encouraged to enhance their skills and knowledge by moving to a different European country as both national governments and European institutions anticipate individual skill gains, closer European networks and a boost to national economies as a result. Using data from a longitudinal survey, this paper follows UK-educated intra-European mobile graduates from undergraduate courses into employment, further study or other activities, and compares their early pathway with graduates who remained in the UK (UK stayer). UK-educated mobile graduates are divided into three groups according to their residency and location after their undergraduate course: UK nationals moving to a different European country (UK movers); nationals of other European countries returning to their home country (returners); and nationals of other European countries moving to a third European country (other mobile graduates). Empirical findings show that mobility for UK movers is mainly employment-driven whilst mobility of returners and other mobile graduates is education-driven. However, if employed, UK-educated mobile graduates are more likely to work in skill-appropriate occupations compared to UK stayers. The transition to either employment or further study of most UK-educated mobile graduates does not take longer compared to UK stayers.

The intra-European transferability of graduates’ skills gained in the U.K.

ABSTRACT Mobility has been seen as the hallmark of the European Higher Education Area with student and graduate mobility being promoted and facilitated through the Bologna process. This paper follows the experiences of 12 U.K.-educated mobile graduates of British and other European Union (EU) nationality and analyses both their skills gained by studying at a U.K. higher education institution and the obstacles they experienced to transfer their U.K. qualification to a different country. We demonstrate that graduates not only developed – as part of their course and within the opportunities that the U.K. higher education environment offers – but also used various skills ranging from subject-specific to language and generic skills in their current activities. While a U.K. degree is reputable and well known in other European countries, there seem to be limitations in relation to its transferability and recognition for studying and working beyond the U.K., which contribute to unequal treatment in the local labour market between domestic- and foreign-educated graduates. More than a decade after the inception of the Bologna process and the introduction of tools to facilitate mobility, structural barriers still exist which prevent the smooth recognition of skills and qualifications of mobile students and graduates within the EU. This has implications for further study and employment outcomes for mobile graduates but also for mobility decisions before and after higher education.

Developing vocational competences during secondary school

Purpose Using the example of an amalgamated secondary school qualification (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme – IBCP), in which both vocational education and training (VET) and academic subjects are taught, the paper aims to discuss the use of skills and knowledge gained during the IBCP for post-secondary school activities. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses mixed method data based on a survey of 57 IBCP graduates and qualitative interviews with 20 IBCP graduates. Findings relate to the role of the IBCP in the careers decision-making process, the skills and competences students gained during their IBCP and its transferability to their current activity. Findings After their IBCP, more than half of all observed students had entered higher education. Whilst a few students did not engage actively in the career decision-making process, some were pro-active and used different sources to gain information. However, a large group of students used their time during the IBCP to test various occupational ideas and, thus, used their VET to further the careers decision-making process. Most students reported that they could transfer the skills and competencies they had gained during their secondary school to their current activity. Originality/value The paper calls for a renunciation of the ambivalent signals an amalgamated secondary school degree can provide. IBCP students signal both an increased productivity because of an increased level of vocational skills and a lower level of academic achievement. These signals, however, allow students to enter a highly diverse higher education system, especially in vocational courses.

Exploratory research on internet-enabled work exchanges and employability. Analysis and synthesis of qualitative evidence on crowdsourcing for work, funding and volunteers

This report provides analysis of qualitative research into the relationship between the internet-enabled exchanges mentioned and employability. In doing so, it focuses on three areas of crowdsourcing: using the internet to access funding (CSF); using the internet to access and undertake paid work (usually remotely) (CSW); and using the internet to access unpaid work in the form of reciprocal exchanges or volunteering opportunities (which may be undertaken remotely), especially with the aim of developing skills for paid work (CSV).

An Exploration of Quality Part-Time Working in Europe, with a Focus on the UK Case

Part-time working may seem like an ideal solution for women wanting to maintain a work-life balance and increase well-being. Indeed, part-time working is common across many European countries. Evidence from the UK, however, shows that because of the limited part-time options available in highly-skilled jobs, many women compromise by crowding into lower-level part-time jobs. Part-time workers are also at a disadvantage in terms of access to training and development opportunities, with longer-term career implications. In spite of these identified career penalties, evidence has shown that women like part-time work and flexibility in their working hours and report lower work-life conflict than full-time working women. In this chapter, we draw on qualitative data from the UK government-funded Quality Part-Time Work Fund initiative, set up to increase the wider availability of better part-time job opportunities.

Making the Best of a Bad Job? Women and Part-Time Work in the United Kingdom

Forty-two per cent of the female workforce now works part-time. Of these, many have young children, and the more children a woman has, the more likely she is to work either part-time or not at all. Although around two million men also work part-time, this is often due to an inability to gain full-time work. In spite of the high proportion of women in part-time jobs, extensive research has shown that most part-time work is offered in lower-level jobs, with low rates of pay and lower promotion prospects than full-time jobs. This chapter outlines the choices and constraints which women face in relation to paid employment and the various explanations given for women’s reliance on part-time work. We also describe the efforts made by individual women and by various organisations to improve the situation for women wishing to work part-time in better quality jobs. In so doing, we draw on evidence from the government-funded Quality Part-time Work Fund initiative.

ICT, internet-enabled work and implications for space and entrepreneurship

In the context of developments in information and communications technologies (ICTs) there is growing interest in opportunities for internet-enabled entrepreneurship. As the internet and ICTs have extended their reach in the economic and social spheres, so they have opened new possibilities and practices in the organisation, content and conduct of work and skills development, how work is contracted and where and how it is undertaken. The internet can alter the contours of labour markets and potentially change how individuals interact with them by broadening access to opportunities and enabling remote and mobile working. This chapter explores conceptually what ICT and internet-enabled work means for the location of work at local, national and international levels, drawing on a review of the literature and on findings from case study research with users of selected internet-enabled platforms. It focuses particularly on ‘crowdsourcing’ – defined broadly as an online-mediated exchange that allows users (organisations or individuals) to access other users via the internet to solve specific problems, to undertake specific tasks or to achieve specific aims. It outlines the diversity and key features of internet-enabled working and implications for the location of work and for entrepreneurship. It addresses two important questions: 1) how and whether internet-enabled working enables workers and businesses to operate in global marketplaces, so superseding the confines of neighbourhoods and local labour markets; and 2) how and whether such forms of work can foster local embeddedness by offering opportunities for entrepreneurship from a home location. It is concluded that crowdsourcing has contradictory relationships with space, since it can provide access to global opportunities, while at the same time enabling local work, as well as issues of flexibility and autonomy.