SPAIN • Illes Baleares United response to labour market needs

The regional government of the Balearic Islands in is applying the principle of shared management to develop its regional employment strat- egy. It relies on the active participation of all the different levels of admin- istration plus social partners and training bodies.

Project name The Balearic archipelago, comprising the The regional government is responding UGESPAE (Unification and management islands of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and with the development of a Regional of active employment policies) , is a renowned tourist desti- Action Programme for Employment. It Project duration nation. Some 80% of the region’s GDP is will be built on a sound analysis of the November 2003 to October 2005 generated through services linked to labour market needs and the human tourism. A further 8% comes from the resources available, and will take account EU co-funding EUR 739,062 (66,3 %) construction industry. of the European Employment Strategy guidelines and National Action Plans. Total budget Employment trends also reflect the EUR 1,114,725 region’s reliance on tourism. Although Importantly, the regional government Partners unemployment levels are relatively low – envisages developing and testing the Ajuntament de Calvia Majorca 6.7% compared to 13% in Spain as a ‘shared management model’ involving Ajuntament d’Eivissa whole – many jobs are seasonal and low- the regional government, ten territorial Insular de Menorca skilled. bodies, centres of further education and Conselle de Majorca social partners. Together they should Consell Insular d’Eivissa i Formentera One of the key challenges facing the agree on the measures to be implement- Ajuntament de Palma Mancomunitat Pla de region is the low level of qualifications ed and the integration of other employ- Mancomunitat des among the working population. Only ment initiatives. Mancomunitat del Nord de Mallorca 5% have completed university studies. Universitat de les Iles Balears Many young people drop out of further Six pilot projects are being developed to Govern de les Iles Balears education so as to find work in the test the approach: Calvia City Council, UGT tourist sector. Eivissa City Council, Ibiza City Council, CAEB PIME Baleares Palma City Council, Raiguer County UNAC Furthermore, a closer analysis of the Council, Insular Council of Menorca and Fundació Deixalles employment statistics reveals that the Insular Council of Eivissa and For- Conselleria de Presidència i Esports low-qualified are over-represented mentera. The results of these trials will CS de Comisiones Obreras de Illes among the unemployed or partially be evaluated for their wider use in the Balears employed. According to the national region. Institut Balear de la Dona Direcció General de Joventut institute of employment, almost 50% of Institut Balear d’Afers Socials those with no secondary education were Ajuntament de Felanitx unemployed in 2001. Those active in Coordinadora occupations with low skill requirements also had more precarious employment Contact Conselleria de Treball i Formació conditions. Direcció completa Gremi Teixidors,38 E-07009 E-mail [email protected]

Website www.ugespae.net

30