There are more vacancies than unemployed people in the Netherlands and the Venlo region is also still experiencing labour market shortages. This is why the Labour Market & Knowledge Development Committee is making every effort to connect talents to Venlo companies. Marivonne van Kralingen has chaired this committee since May 2021. "Our goal is to ensure that talent stays in the region."
Along with 15 other enthusiastic committee members from business, education and government, lawyer/entrepreneur Marivonne van Kralingen is committed to the committee. "We join forces to make connections between education, government and businesses in Venlo," he said. "It aim is to keep Venlo talent in the region, thus contributing to the challenges posed by the tight labour market. There is a lot going on in terms of labour shortages and there are many projects in the region dealing with the labour market and motivating people. Consider also, for example, the Land of Makers initiative, which puts North Limburg companies working within the manufacturing industry on the map. We As Entrepreneurial Venlo, we want to find the connection where we can add value and pull the strings. That is why we like to join existing projects."
Reaching goals
A current project the committee has joined is a pilot running at Blariacum College. From Kralingen: "Young people are asked what they want to do for a profession, regardless of their level of education. As someone wants to become a doctor while he does not have the right level of education, we let him spend a day shadowing a doctor to see exactly what the profession entails. As a student is then truly motivated, the school can work with the student to chart the right path to make the dream come true. The project wants to pave the way for students and look at their potential." According to Van Kralingen, you can achieve a lot in your life as long as you are motivated.
'We want to contribute to the challenges posed by the tight labour market'
"Can't doesn't exist I always say to my children and this pilot is a great example of that." According to Van Kralingen, the commission can do a lot for this pilot. "Just after you ask someone what they really want, the connection should be made with companies in the region. To making the latter possible, we have opened up and are looking to connect with members of Entrepreneurial Venlo."
Deepening
The Labour Market & Knowledge Development Committee brings Venlo companies and education together. "If students or schools want to spend a day in a particular company, it is important that we make this connection locally. There so many great things are happening in Venlo, which is why we are convinced that students or other talents will want to work in Venlo when they see this."
'With Entrepreneurial Venlo, we want to contribute to existing or new projects and show what Venlo companies have to offer'
Van Kralingen believes it is important to clarify what different functions companies in Venlo have to offer. "There should be looked at broadly across industries. As when you talk about installation engineering, people often think only of plumbers lying at the bottom of a cupboard. But it is so much more than that; there are many modern high-tech possibilities in this profession. That's why a project like this where you get to experience the profession for a day as a teenager fits in incredibly well with this."
Broad view of labour market
"Many people think that the tightness in the labour market occurred in the corona period, but there were shortages even before the pandemic," says Van Kralingen. "Some industries have had this challenge for many years, think for example of technically skilled people." To address the labour shortage, she says, the focus should not only be on schoolchildren, but also on labour potential that is still untapped and how we want to deal with international workers. "This means you have to look at what labour potential is still available in the social domain, what you can do for people with a distance to the labour market and offer international workers a good place in the region." Van Kralingen is aware that the commission will not be able to solve all the problems related to the labour market. "But we can look for great practical examples in our companies, learn from them and, above all, share those experiences among Venlo entrepreneurs."
Booking successes
According to Van Kralingen, labour potential should therefore be viewed broadly: from students to international workers and from older workers on unemployment benefits to those distanced from the labour market. "It is important to actively ask and look at everyone's needs and potential. The is then up to politicians, schools and employers to explore how we ensure that the person achieves their goal."
According to Van Kralingen, the main question of the Labour Market & Knowledge Development committee is clear: "Can we as Entrepreneurial Venlo contribute to existing or new projects, showing what Venlo companies have to offer?" She hopes the committee will do its bit to reduce the labour market tightness in the Venlo region. "I hope to toast the successes we have achieved at the end of 2022."
