Engaging the long term unemployed by greening public spaces and training

Jobs

Maintaining employability: training and public service jobs for the long-term unemployed

In Zagreb long-term unemployed people work at maintaining the city’s public green spaces in exchange for education and training in fields which are in high demand in the local economy. This increases their competitiveness on the labour market and their chances of finding a job. In 2011 there were 45,916 registered unemployed people in the city of Zagreb, of which 19.1% were people without a high school education and 9.4% were war veterans. It is difficult for these groups to acquire new skills and become active on the labour market, meaning many remain on social benefits for extended periods of time and face social exclusion and poverty. The project is designed to activate unemployed people by having them work on the preservation and clean-up of green spaces. In return they are entitled to attend education and training courses which improve their chances on the labour market. Participants can choose between 58 programmes, depending on their needs and interests. Courses range from elementary, secondary and high school education to vocational training.