The common territorial challenges of the border regions have a strong effect on both regions' citizens, institutions and economy. Close to the border long-term unemployment is the norm, while labour shortages have also been present. The skills found in the labour supply do not meet the demands of the businesses. The area is not capable of attracting investors, as their number one consideration is the availability of skilled employees.
There are several active employment policy tools available for the authorities in the border region, but experiences show that these tools are ineffective in the case of disadvantaged unemployed citizens. Investors are not attracted but rather distracted by the number of active age unemployed people in the border regions. Unless it can change the quality of the free labour supply the region will not be able to emerge, it will lose the investment opportunity meant by being close to the border.
Currently there is no target group specific method that would guide these people back to the labour market. The "Szív a Szívért Alapítvány" had successful results with several unemployed groups by its personalised programme based on individual needs. The partners selected the target group together, who were most endangered by marginalisation: unemployed people with low opportunities for employment. The lead applicant will transfer the methodology, it will train 3 Slovak experts through a pilot group with 8 participants. The partner will further develop the methodology based on the experiences. They will develop 40 people in 2-2 groups (10 people/group; 4 groups), recruited from the groups of unemployed with low opportunities for employment and the ones with insecure housing.
Related TAPE: Between R2 and M3.Toward a new cross-border north-south economic development axis
