The Fundaci贸n Laboral de la Construcci贸n coordinates the initiative #Pact4YouthEU, co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission (id: 101087631), which aims to act in favor of the employability of young people in the construction sector, through a participatory methodology based on collaboration between sectoral representatives and VET providers of the sector in Spain (Confederaci贸n Nacional de la Construcci贸n -CNC- and the Fundaci贸n Laboral de la Construcci贸n), Cyprus (OSEOK and KEPO), Greece (PEDMEDE and U Studies) and Italy (ANCE and FORMEDIL).
The project aims to provide solutions to the high rate of youth unemployment (close to 30% in the case of Spain, Greece and Italy, compared to the EU average of 15%), and to the sector’s difficulty in attracting new workers for generational replacement This objective will be pursued through the development of different actions leading to regional, national and/or European solutions that will address the training and empowerment of young people within the sector, as well as their employability.
To this end, over the next two years, the eight European partners will work on the development of a Roadmap and an Action Plan to boost the employability of young people in the sector, and will also promote the signing of Collaboration Agreements between SMEs and training centers to implement the reception of trainees, and various actions will be carried out to bring young people and companies closer together.
PROJECT CONTRIBUTIONS AT NATIONAL AND EUROPEAN LEVEL
Construction is currently marked by the ecological and digital transition Both climate change and the trend towards a ‘green’ economy, or the reinforcement of digitalization, present important opportunities for job creation in the sector. Thus, the implementation of the Green Deal or the Renewal Wave confirms the need to increase the number of skilled workers. According to the latest figures, it is estimated that around 700,000 new workers will be needed in Spain by 2026, while in Italy the figure ranges from 339,000 to 376,000 workers; or in Greece, which is estimated to need to reach around 20,000 new professionals by 2030.
For this reason, the qualification of people of working age is crucial and must be adjusted to the needs of companies which, at the same time, must adapt to respond to new regulations and directives At this point, the project seeks to establish new approaches and tools to help change the social image of the sector and attract talent.
The #Pact4YotuhEU encourages the vision that construction is an essential sector (European economic engine), modern, innovative and forward-looking, professionalized, well-paid, with a wide range of different activities, collaborative and digitized work.
CHALLENGES ADDRESSED BY #PACT4YOUTHEU
Based on the current context, the eight partner entities have launched this European project to rebuild the image of the sector, through the following actions:
- Elaboration of a Roadmap for youth employability.
- Promotion of intermediation services and educational support/guidance measures.
- Signing of collaboration agreements between SMEs and training centers to stimulate the reception of young people in internships and on-the-job training programs (alternation, dual).
- Open days and practical demonstrations to increase the interest of young people in the construction sector.
- Awareness, communication and dissemination campaigns aimed at young people.
- Stimulate the participation of SMEs in the opportunities offered by the market in its conversion to sustainability, through collaboration between manufacturers, large companies and small and medium-sized companies, through campaigns, master classes, conferences, …
- Promote in the ecosystem of the sector the adhesion to the Pact for Skills (or Pact for Skills) for the construction sector in Europe.
THE SKILLS PACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
This is an initiative of the European Commission presented through the European Skills Agendabeing the drivers of the Pact in the case of the construction industry the main European sectoral organizations – the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW), and the European Builders Confederation (EBC) – in order to support a fair and resilient recovery, in addition to contributing to the green and digital transition demanded by the sector.
The #Pact4YouthEU project adheres to principle four of the Pact, which focuses on: “Attracting more young people and women to the sector, by: 1. Promoting activities tailored to specific target groups; 2. Taking into account the needs and abilities of individuals, including their personal and professional needs; 3. Developing awareness campaigns on professional opportunities; 4. Improving the image of the sector; 5. Promoting gender equality and gender mainstreaming in vocational training and apprenticeship programs”.