Description
Country
Focus area
‘Youth Employment’ supports the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Bulgaria. Its objective is to boost the employability of young people by providing opportunities for internships and on-the-job training, which will facilitate the transition from education to employment and lead to the accumulation of work experience needed by employers. The initiative uses the Employer Survey on Skill Needs by considering the results during the process of territorial allocation of the available funds.
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
Decision for Approval of the Evaluation Report of the Director of the Managing Authority - DG European Funds, International Programmes and Projects at the MLSP
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
The measure was first available to end beneficiaries (young people and employers) in mid-2016 and is currently fully operational.
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
The procedure refers indirectly to the results of the Employer Survey on Skill Needs initiative by considering them during the process of territorial allocation of the available funds.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded as project (at least 3 years)
Funded under project No. BG05M9OP001-1.001-0001 „New Opportunity for Youth Employment”
Funded by the EU
The measure is jointly funded by the ESF and Youth Employment Initiative
Other
Operational Programme Human Resources Development
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
The procedure directly tackles skills mismatching by facilitating the transition from education to employment and leading to the accumulation of work experience needed by employers.
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Basic literacy and numeracy skills
Basic digital skills
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Employer surveys
The procedure utilises indirectly the results of the Employer Survey on Skill Needs initiative
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
The procedure indirectly utilises the results of the Employer Survey on Skill Needs initiative by considering them during the process of territorial allocation of the available funds.
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National agency
National Employment Agency
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National ministry
Involved in the design of the initiative
Social partner: employer organisation
Involved in activities for raising awareness about the initiative among employers
Regional PES
Involved in the organisational activities for the delivery of the initiative
Chambers of Commerce
Involved in activities for raising awareness about the initiative among employers
Other
Involved in the delivery of the initiative
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Young people making the transition from education into work
Receive opportunities for internship or on-the-job training
Young people with low levels of basic skills /early leavers from education or training
Receive opportunities for internship or on-the-job training
Minority groups in the population
Available opportunities for internship or on-the-job training for those up to 29 years of age
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
The key factors for the success of the procedure are associated with the awareness raising efforts and support provided to young people and employers by the local labour offices, as well as through information campaigns and regular meetings of the Employment Committees at the Regional Development Councils.
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
The main indicator used for measuring the progress of this initiative is the number of unemployed individuals at the age of 29 or below involved in activities under the initiative. Regular information about the progress of the initiative's implementation is provided in the Annual Progress Report of the Operational Programme Human Resources Development
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
No
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
The last Annual Progress Report of the Operational Programme Human Resources Development indicates that towards the end of 2019, the number of unemployed young people included in the initiative exceeds 2.5 times the initial targets, whereas of all young participants in the programme, 61% continue working for the same employer after the end of the internship, while 9% find a job with a different employer.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
As the initiative is jointly funded by the ESF and Youth Employment Initiative, its sustainability will depend on the availability of EU funding. Being a highly successful initiative however, it is likely to continue over the next years, as youth employment is a key priority in the draft versions of the Human Resources Development Programme for the period 2021-2027.
Other instruments in Bulgaria
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