Forecasting system(s)

VLAMT – competence prognoses

The Flemish Government aims to have a coordinated and structured collection of information about future competence needs. In 2010, a pilot project has been launched to develop an instrument for the identification of competence needs for the Flemish region. In the European project ‘Flemish Labour Market Research of the future’ (VLAMT), funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), a concept was elaborated.

The project consists of:

• a quantitative model of changes in the labour market, undertaken by the Policy Research Centre Work and Social Economy, a centre of expertise in policy monitoring and analysis of the labour market, which support the Flemish Government
• ‘Competent’, a skills database maintained by VDAB
• strategic focus studies on competence needs

The Flemish Government intends to encourage and support focus studies through sectoral education and funds for training.

 

Job monitor

The Policy Research Centre Work and Social Economy also provides a Job Monitor (beroepenmonitor). The Job Monitor is an interactive tool with evolutions of the number employed in several professional classes. The Job Monitor is divided into characteristic such as gender, age and education level. The statistics are calculated on the basis of the Labour Force Questionnaire. 

Skills development

The Policy Paper Employment, Economy, Science and Innovation (2014-2019) states that there will be investment in a strong connection between education and labour market to provide better developed and more agile citizens. In this way, citizens should be able to improve their competences and acquire qualifications.