Promoting the labour market inclusion of vulnerable groups is a vital and multifaceted challenge. It is not merely about integrating those people currently outside the labour market; it also involves supporting vulnerable workers within the labour market, who are at risk of job loss or have limited career advancement opportunities. A system-oriented approach is required to enhance the labour market mobility of vulnerable workers and job seekers, achieved by forming a coalition of key regional stakeholders. Ideally, the labour market positions of current employees and job seekers are enhanced simultaneously, in an integrated way. Promoting the mobility of existing employees fosters an inclusive work environment. It may also create space in, for example, lower-skilled positions, which can then facilitate the integration of vulnerable job seekers into the workforce.
An analysis of regional challenges essential to the success of this systemic approach has highlighted the need for policies enhancing regional collaboration. These policies should simultaneously aim to:
- eliminate age and gender discrimination;
- align education and skills with market needs;
- enhance employer engagement and support;
- improve the integration and coordination of employment services.
Regional coalitions combine efforts of municipalities, employers, training providers, worker representative bodies and civil society organisations to jointly develop, adapt and implement interventions, such as job-seeking training, on-the-job learning, peer learning and fast-track training. They also help to navigate and connect fragmented systems. Employers play a crucial role in such regional coalitions – providing jobs, work trials, on-the-job training, and supporting workplace integration. Their early and structural involvement ensures interventions meet real labour market needs, though engagement remains challenging, especially when short-term benefits are unclear.
Coalition benefit from adaptive leadership – characterised by clear coordination, flexible role division, and the ability to respond to political or organisational shifts. Informal trust-building must be balanced with structured decision-making, and reflection moments to improve responsiveness and sustain collaboration. A team of Bulgarian researchers of the Applied Research and Communications Fund is participating in a EU initiative focused on developing a blueprint for building regional coalitions for inclusive labour market. Local activities target women of age 50+ and seek to strengthen their access and participation in the labour market.
INSPIRE in the Media: Women Over 50 and Their Access to the Labour Market
