RAN Business Magazine recently highlighted the now highly urgent labour market issue in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region. The magazine discussed this with Jean Schreurs (NXP), Rob Verhofstad (HAN University of Applied Sciences) and Renate Bouwman (The Economic Board).
There is a massive labour shortage across various sectors. If we do nothing to address the current labour market crisis, these shortages will only grow further. The labour market challenges are both quantitative and qualitative in nature: not only is it necessary to attract and retain sufficient qualified talent, but promising initiatives and projects must also reinforce one another, so that we can fully harness the enormous potential of our region.
As good examples inspire others to follow suit, the Green Arnhem-Nijmegen Metropolitan Region (comprising 18 collaborating local authorities), The Economic Board and the province of Gelderland are now working together on a Human Capital Agenda. RAN Business spoke to Renate Bouwman (The Economic Board), Jean Schreurs (NXP) and Rob Verhofstad (HAN University of Applied Sciences).
The Human Capital Agenda has three key priorities (working groups):
(1) lifelong learning for everyone, (2) attracting and retaining talent, including students, and (3) tapping into untapped or overlooked labour potential. The latter includes enabling part-time workers to work full-time, training asylum seekers who have been granted residence status, and helping people into work through targeted, bespoke programmes.
The agenda will be elaborated in three working tables and given a sustainable form in a triple helix Human Capital Agreement Arnhem-Nijmegen 2021-2025. The ambition is to have at least 25 partners from education, government and business sign the agreement by December 2022.
Bouwman is an education and labour market adviser at KplusV and also serves as a Civic Entrepreneur for the Labour Market at The Economic Board, where she is committed to driving and strengthening the labour market in our region. “I try to encourage, connect or scale up projects that have a positive impact on both the supply of workers and the qualifications they need. As well as a massive shortage of healthcare workers, for example, there is also a shortage of digital and technical skills, which means that innovations cannot be implemented, or can only be implemented with greater difficulty. That is a real cause for concern.”
NXP Semiconductors has over 1,800 employees in Nijmegen alone, but even more people are needed in all disciplines. The current ageing population, boom times and lower influx of young people into the labour market pose serious problems. Add to this the need for other ways of working, the desire to interest more young people - especially women - in technical professions, and necessary innovations for energy transition and mobility, for example, and you have a perfect storm.
"Quantity is not enough, however, we also want to deliver quality with researching innovative professionals who are also of value to - in this case - NXP. In addition, we contribute to the regional research climate with our practice-oriented research. Not only does this improve our education, it also stimulates an inquisitive, entrepreneurial attitude among students. In this, we need companies like NXP. It is a reciprocal process that in turn contributes to societal challenges."
* This article previously appeared on the business platform for the Arnhem-Nijmegen region RAN Business and in edition 06/2022 of Nijmegen Business.
There is a massive labour shortage across various sectors. If we do nothing to address the current labour market crisis, these shortages will only grow further. The labour market challenges are both quantitative and qualitative in nature: not only is it necessary to attract and retain sufficient qualified talent, but promising initiatives and projects must also reinforce one another, so that we can fully harness the enormous potential of our region.
As good examples inspire others to follow suit, the Green Arnhem-Nijmegen Metropolitan Region (comprising 18 collaborating local authorities), The Economic Board and the province of Gelderland are now working together on a Human Capital Agenda. RAN Business spoke to Renate Bouwman (The Economic Board), Jean Schreurs (NXP) and Rob Verhofstad (HAN University of Applied Sciences).
The Human Capital Agenda has three key priorities (working groups):
(1) lifelong learning for everyone, (2) attracting and retaining talent, including students, and (3) tapping into untapped or overlooked labour potential. The latter includes enabling part-time workers to work full-time, training asylum seekers who have been granted residence status, and helping people into work through targeted, bespoke programmes.
The agenda will be elaborated in three working tables and given a sustainable form in a triple helix Human Capital Agreement Arnhem-Nijmegen 2021-2025. The ambition is to have at least 25 partners from education, government and business sign the agreement by December 2022.
Future-proof labour market
“The aim is a future-proof labour market in which the needs of employers, employees and the labour supply are well aligned,” explains Renate Bouwman. “The Human Capital Agreement serves as the guiding principle for future actions. As the labour market mismatch – in terms of both quantity and quality – is greatest in the energy, health and high-tech sectors, that is where we are focusing our efforts.”Bouwman is an education and labour market adviser at KplusV and also serves as a Civic Entrepreneur for the Labour Market at The Economic Board, where she is committed to driving and strengthening the labour market in our region. “I try to encourage, connect or scale up projects that have a positive impact on both the supply of workers and the qualifications they need. As well as a massive shortage of healthcare workers, for example, there is also a shortage of digital and technical skills, which means that innovations cannot be implemented, or can only be implemented with greater difficulty. That is a real cause for concern.”
Perfect storm
Jean Schreurs is Executive Director at NXP Semiconductors Netherlands and also a member of The Economic Board. Not only is he responsible for everything to do with the company’s internal workforce, but also for liaising with government, research institutions and society. Schreurs: “Through themes such as sustainability, diversity and inclusion, I want to forge a link between the business community and society. We absolutely need society, not only when it comes to employees, but also for knowledge and ideas.”NXP Semiconductors has over 1,800 employees in Nijmegen alone, but even more people are needed in all disciplines. The current ageing population, boom times and lower influx of young people into the labour market pose serious problems. Add to this the need for other ways of working, the desire to interest more young people - especially women - in technical professions, and necessary innovations for energy transition and mobility, for example, and you have a perfect storm.
The knife cuts three ways
The collaboration between NXP and HAN is a fine example of a project that benefits the region, students and the company alike. Schreurs: “Bringing more companies on board and setting up working groups would be a great next step, ideally on a region-wide basis. For example, we offer work placements, provide input for the various degree programmes and jointly organise further training courses for our staff. We also organised ‘speed dates’ between people from NXP and HAN University of Applied Sciences. This resulted in a programme with key points that other companies and educational institutions can easily get involved in. And when we work with lecturers and students to develop innovative ideas and help student teams tackle societal issues, it’s a win-win-win situation; our experience shows that these kinds of teams often form the basis for the companies of the future.”Researching, entrepreneurial professionals
“We do indeed already work together a great deal, but we want to step up the way we do so. That has led to this letter of intent. We all share the same goal and we want to achieve it in a clean, smart and socially responsible way.” Rob Verhofstad is Chair of the Executive Board of HAN University of Applied Sciences and a member of The Economic Board. The university has over 37,000 students (a breeding ground for talent!) and over 4,300 staff with specialist knowledge. It is at the forefront of innovation. The thousands of students who enter the labour market each year armed with a degree already make a significant contribution to human capital in our region."Quantity is not enough, however, we also want to deliver quality with researching innovative professionals who are also of value to - in this case - NXP. In addition, we contribute to the regional research climate with our practice-oriented research. Not only does this improve our education, it also stimulates an inquisitive, entrepreneurial attitude among students. In this, we need companies like NXP. It is a reciprocal process that in turn contributes to societal challenges."
Sustainable & deepening partnership as an ecosystem
And it is precisely this last point that is important: the collaborations envisaged by The Economic Board are not ‘merely’ cross-sectoral links. It is not about working against one another, but with one another – that is the key. This creates an ecosystem in which labour market supply and demand are brought together through specific training programmes, thereby ensuring they are aligned. Verhofstad: “Because we cannot solve the current labour crisis from the perspective of a single discipline.”Join us!
Bouwman: “In 2022, we will be working together towards a Human Capital Agreement. This will include concrete objectives, plans for linking and scaling up projects, and funding with partners in the region. Would you like to get involved as a partner or join a working group as a company or employer? Please contact Renate Bouwman at r.bouwman@theeconomicboard.com.* This article previously appeared on the business platform for the Arnhem-Nijmegen region RAN Business and in edition 06/2022 of Nijmegen Business.
