Sectoral Approach - examples

Examples of the sectoral approach at different levels

(I) European level: EU Blueprint for sectoral cooperation on skills

The Blueprint develops comprehensive skills strategies which meet the needs of specific sectors to grow and innovate. It will stimulate investment and encourage a more strategic use of EU and national funding opportunities. The aim is to support an overall sectoral strategy and to develop concrete actions to address short- and medium-term skills needs.

The first five blueprint alliances began their work in January 2018:

Four additional blueprint alliances started their activities in January 2019:

Six more blueprint alliances will become active at the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2020:

bioeconomy, new technologies and innovations in agriculture
batteries for electro-mobility
defence technologies
energy value chain – digitalisation
energy-intensive industries/industrial symbiosis
microelectronic manufacturing & design

The next six sectors eligible for funding under Erasmus+ are:

blockchain
cultural heritage
cybersecurity
rail supply and transport industries
work integration social enterprises
software services

(II) Sector development scenarios

European Union (EU) sector studies (2009): comprehensive, resource-intensive, scenario-based, combining quantitative and qualitative analysis

Sector analysis has been performed for decades. It appears, however, that for the first time comprehensive, in‐depth sector analysis applying the same methodology has been performed for a large number of sectors simultaneously, covering more or less the majority of total employment in Europe. The amount of comparable data generated, both qualitative and quantitative, has provided a unique opportunity for developing a coherent view of the on-going restructuring process in Europe, identifying strategies to secure and improve the EU's competitiveness and redeploying the economy towards new activities providing greater added value as well as new and better jobs.

In order to enhance strategic human resource management, and thereby improve European competitiveness in the global economy, the European Commission has pointed to the importance of developing better methods and tools to anticipate trends and changes in the European labour market. Against this background, the European Commission carried out a number of comprehensive sector studies during 2008 and 2009 (studies available at http://ec.europa.eu/restructuringandjobs).
Sector studies in a country context

Case of National Training Fund-National Observatory Employment and Training of the Czech Republic (NTF-NOET): project 'Future Skills Needs in the Czech Energy Industry'

Sector-based skills anticipation studies have been published at: http://budoucnostprofesi.cz/sectoral-studies/about-sectoral-studies.html

The development of sector studies focusing on the future of the labour market is a relatively new topic in the Czech Republic, and therefore the necessary methodology was not available. The study 'Future Skills Needs in the Energy Supply Industry', which was implemented by the National Observatory of Employment and Training in 2007, allowed the development and testing of a qualitative approach to the anticipation of skills needs at sector level. In addition, sector-based skills studies were completed for the sectors of electrical engineering and IT. The studies concern the period 2008–2018.
Sector studies by a sector/branch organisation (Observia: Observatory of the Food Industry, France)

Observia publishes prospective studies of the sector occupations, with a medium-term horizon (5–6 years). These studies focus on sensitive occupations from the Cartographie https://www.observatoires-alimentaire.fr/competences-metiers and combine scenario building, quantitative analysis and forecasts of future trends. Observia’s Parity Committee is involved in the various phases of the study in a consultative role.

The web portal of Observia provides information, data and trends, reports, tools and other excellent readable products for users: https://www.observatoires-alimentaire.fr/

(III) Sector studies focused on vocational training planning: the case of Morocco

The Department of Vocational Training (Département de la Formation Professionnelle, DFP) tested and adopted a Methodological Guide for sector studies (DFP, Guide de conception et de production d’une étude sectorielle, 2009).

This methodology is based on six key steps:

(1) Planning the study;

(2) Labour market research (statistical data, interviews and analysis);

(3) Survey of the main occupation groups and jobs in the sector;

(4) Identification of the main functions of the occupations;

(5) Research on the existing training provision;

(6) Conclusions on the relationship between occupational functions and provision, and recommendations.

Besides making extensive use of quantitative data, the process involves a great deal of consultation with stakeholders and businesses, in the form of interviews and workshops. The Methodological Guide is available upon request. Such studies are regularly carried out in Morocco, as the indispensable starting point for the conception and planning of VET programmes and qualifications according to the 'Competence-Based Approach (APC)'. The results of sector studies for training are used to define the competence standards, training courses, pedagogical resources and other measures. These sector studies contribute to improved matching of training content and qualifications with the skills requirements and trends in occupations by sector. By steering human resource development towards the demands and skills needs of the sectors, these studies provide much-needed support to the implementation of the national economic sector development strategies.

Sectoral Approach - examples

Examples of the sectoral approach at different levels

Be the first one to comment