Cooperation between Nyírbátor and Carei for improving employment and promoting development based on endogenous potential

SUMMARY The CO-LABOUR project aims to enhance the employment and the local economic growth in the cross-border region of Nyírbátor and Carei through - improving a condition for trainings as well as for promotion of local products and services, - and by implementing a set of activities to balance the supply and demand side of the labour market as well as to enhance the cross-border mobility of the workforce. The project has a complex approach to handle the existing imbalances of the labour market in the long run. JUSTIFICATION – COMMON CHALLENGES Based on the available statistical data and on the findings of the RO-HU Programme, employment represents a significant problem in the border area: “the share of total active population within total population show a lower figure for all participating counties than the EU average” and “the long-term unemployment rate of the Hungary-Romania eligible area is somewhat higher than the EU28+4 value.” These statements are valid also for the region of Nyírbátor és Carei. However, another common challenge emerged during the last decade: the lack of skilled labour poses an obstacle to the further growth and it is even a serious threat to day-to-day operation of companies. One of the reasons for this is the inappropriate conditions for trainings. Both cities play an important role of in the county-level economic and labour market processes. As subcentres, Nyírbátor and Carei attract a lot of daily commuters. Labour market processes can be influenced also by the competitiveness of local businesses and vice versa. There are several high-quality local product and services in Nyírbátor and Carei but their awareness and visibility are rather low. RO-HU Programme has identified the lack of a cross-border labour market as one of the biggest challenges in the region. That’s why the partners aim to enhance the employment in their common cross-border region – directly contributing to reach the objectives of the related investment priority and priority axis. OBJECTIVES Overall objective: increasing the employment in the common cross-border region of Nyírbátor and Carei by creating favourable conditions for a balanced labour market and for improved competitiveness of the local businesses on the long term Specific objectives: - Balancing supply and demand in the common labour market of Nyírbátor and Carei - Strengthening competitiveness of local enterprises based on the endogenous potential and assets - Increasing cross-border mobility of workforce EXPECTED RESULTS AND IMPACTS The project will create favourable conditions for (professional, skills development and/or upskilling) trainings and for promotion of local product and services in the region. It will contribute to the development of a common cross-border labour market by various joint activities targeting all labour market actors. To better match the employers’ demands with the supply, the cross-border mobility of workforce also need to be enhanced and the project foresees various activities to support that (e.g. common online labour market database, common labour market forum). The structural unemployment in the cross-border region will be reduced. TARGET GROUPS Direct target groups: 1. disadvantaged/unskilled people will benefit directly from the project through improved training conditions; 2. employees/jobseekers currently working or looking for a job in the region can find more and better job opportunities in the common integrated labour market of Nyírbátor and Carei; 3. local enterprises and other employers: their productivity and competitiveness will be enhanced as they will be able to handle labour shortages due to the demand-driven trainings; and they can have the opportunity to promote their products and services. Indirect target groups: 4. other relevant economic and labour market institutions of the cross-border area (e.g. training institutions, labour market agencies, service providers): as members of a cross-border network, they can handle common challenges more effectively; 5. general public: as the project contributes to the economic growth of the region, it will be beneficial for almost the entire population of Nyírbátor and Carei (and the surrounding settlements); the quality of life of local inhabitants will increase; they can buy products and use services offered by local enterprises in a more efficient way. MAIN ACTIVITIES The first step is elaborating a joint development strategy and action plan to identify the cross-border challenges, potentials and needs as well as to find a shared approach and common solutions – in line with the county-level strategies and the RO-HU Programme. Activities based on the joint strategy: 1. Creating the conditions for trainings and for local product and services: Better conditions make possible the effective and efficient organization of demand-driven trainings to increase employment in the cross-border region of Nyírbátor and Carei. Another factor of competitiveness improved by the partners jointly is the awareness and attractiveness of local products and services. 3 investments will be executed to create better conditions for trainings and promotion: 1 training centre and 1 centre for local products and services in Nyírbátor; training and exhibition centre in Carei. 2. Joint activities to increase employment, to enhance cross-border workforce mobility and to strengthen competitiveness of local businesses: Based on the joint strategy and action plan, partners implement their activities in close collaboration to achieve the project objectives: - common labour market forums will foster the cross-border cooperation and networking among the relevant stakeholders; - common job fairs and the common online labour market database will contribute to better match the demands and the supply and to enhance the cross-border mobility of workforce; - demand-driven trainings for unemployed/disadvantaged people will provide workforce with the desirable skills; - mentor program will support the disadvantaged people when starting work in a new workplace. 3. Communication and dissemination activities: These activities have double target: to ensure the project and programme visibility in the wider public of the border region and beyond, and to support the dissemination of outputs and results to the highest possible extent. Planned communication tools: communication and dissemination plan; project image guidelines; common album about local products and services of the Nyírbátor-Carei region; public events, promotional materials, digital activities. 4. Project management is essential for successful project implementation. It will be carried on by a joint cross-border team made up from personnel of the project partners and external experts.

Main outputs of the CO-LABOUR project are as follows: - joint development strategy and action plan as a base for the common implementation, - 3 buildings affected by investment (for trainings and promotion of local products and services), - skilled workforce to satisfy the employers’ needs, - joint job fairs, labour market forums and database to enhance cross-border networking and workforce mobility. As mid-term results and long-term impacts of the CO-LABOUR project, - endogenous potentials will be used in a more effective way, - local business environment will be improved based on mutual advantages, - cooperation between relevant labour market and economic stakeholders acting in Nyírbátor and Carei will be enhanced, - vacant jobs can be filled, and new jobs can be created more efficiently, - structural unemployment will be reduced due to demand-driven trainings focusing on unemployed and disadvantaged people (social inclusion), - existing imbalances of the labour market can be handled in a sustainable way on the long run in the region of Nyírbátor and Carei, - employment rate and economic growth will increase in Nyírbátor and Carei. All the above statements justify that the current joint initiative of the Local Government of Nyírbátor and the Municipality of Carei represents a result-oriented project that directly contributes to the relevant programme output indicator: at least 966 people will participate in joint local employment initiatives and trainings from both side of the border. The type of related events and activities will be various: trainings, job fairs, forums, mentor program, conferences, etc. According to the planned activities, the target value of 966 participants in joint local employment initiatives and joint trainings will be fulfilled.