The Labour Matching Platform helps people find technical jobs digitally, based on their skills. Founded by the seven major employers Alliander, Enexis, KPN, Stedin, Tennet, Van Gelder and Van Voskuilen, the Labour Matching Platform encourages people from other sectors to switch to jobs in the energy transition.
Last November, Minister Carola Schouten and Ingrid Thijssen of VNO-NCW launched the foundation at a meeting attended by around 50 companies, many of which are active in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region. Gökhan Iyigun is Lead Ecosystems at the Labour Match Platform and also works as a business consultant at Alliander. He is keen to tell us more about the power of this platform.
From bread baker to meter changer: the power of skills-based matching
Gökhan enthusiastically explains what makes the Labour Matching Platform stand out. ‘All too often, employers are chasing the “jack-of-all-trades”, and as a result we overlook motivated workers. We’re still fishing in the same pond as all the other employers far too often.
With this platform, we want to expand that pool with talent. Our platform takes a different approach to ‘skills-based matching’. Instead of looking strictly at experience or qualifications, we focus on existing skills and a willingness to learn. This opens doors to technical professions, which is crucial for the energy transition. We do this through regional collaboration with other employers and by bringing the right parties to the table.’
Gökhan continues: ‘A surprising example is the transition from bakers to meter readers. Bakers have good fine motor skills and are used to strict hygiene protocols—skills that are valuable in technical roles. With the right guidance, they can make the transition to technical roles relatively easily, which broadens their career prospects.’
‘Bakers have fine motor skills and are used to strict hygiene protocols—skills that are valuable in technical roles.’
Looking for technicians for the energy transition
Gökhan is convinced of the power offered by the Labour Match Platform. 'In the coming years, 60,000 technicians are needed for a successful energy transition, according to research. Despite all the efforts of companies, it remains difficult to find these technicians. At the same time, there are many people eager to contribute to this important task. This is why Alliander has joined forces with the six other organisations. Precisely because this is a collective challenge, we need to work together.'
Matching skills to vacancies
The platform features a career aptitude test where candidates can indicate their work experience and what they enjoy doing in their spare time. Once completed, candidates receive a profile of their skills. Based on these skills, the Job Matching Platform identifies suitable roles.
Gökhan explains: ‘To tailor the platform to each candidate, we have developed a career aptitude test. When a participant uses the career aptitude test on our platform, we use AI to translate their knowledge, experience, hobbies and interests into skills. By answering a few simple questions, candidates can have a skills profile ready in just five minutes.
Although this platform uses advanced technology, it remains a human-centred process. We believe it is important that the candidate is at the heart of the entire process. Our platform focuses primarily on career changers. If there’s a match, we actively support the candidate. We therefore look beyond the career aptitude test alone and guide the candidate from start to finish towards their desired job. A job coach supports the candidate, whilst local training providers provide them with training.’
Regional approach in ecosystems
Gökhan emphasises the importance of regional collaboration. ‘We’ve noticed that in a standard recruitment process, there are sometimes five candidates. If one candidate is then hired, four remain. Often, nothing happens with them, and we’re changing that. By collaborating regionally and referring candidates, we’re more likely to find a suitable vacancy in the region for those other four candidates as well. If this doesn’t work out straight away, the candidate remains in a pool and we keep them informed of any new regional vacancies. Moreover, through regional cooperation, we can find a job close to home.’
‘We operate within regional ecosystems and are keen to link up with existing local initiatives. Although the initiators of the Labour Match Platform are large national organisations, a successful energy transition depends on collaboration with regional SMEs and organisations. We are currently active in the Rijnmond, Amsterdam and Rivierenland regions. We are expanding rapidly and are considering launching this initiative in the Arnhem-Nijmegen region as well.’
10,000 workers per year
The Labour Match Platform has big ambitions. ‘Our goal is to place 10,000 technicians with companies active in the energy transition over the next five years. It’s a bold ambition, but we believe it’s realistic. We are connecting with more and more ecosystems and see plenty of opportunities for further expansion. Moreover, we take skills and interests into account, which allows us to appeal to a much wider target group. Many people are open to a job in engineering, but you do need to encourage and facilitate the move into this field.’
Would you like to find out more about the Labour Match Platform? Or would you like to try out the platform for yourself? Then visit www.arbeidsmatchplatform.nl
As part of our region’s Human Capital Agreement, we are collaborating with this organisation to get the platform off the ground in Lifeport as well.
Read more about the Human Capital Agreement
