First URBACT Local group meeting held within the Network4Work project

The meeting brought together representatives of relevant institutions and organisations active in the field of employment and labour market in Sarajevo Canton, marking the start of the local group’s work.

At the beginning of the meeting, participants were introduced to the project and the role of the URBACT Local Group as a platform for cooperation, exchange of experiences and joint development of solutions. A good practice from the partner city of Nyíregyháza (Hungary) was also presented, based on continuous dialogue and cooperation between institutions, educational institutions, companies and other relevant stakeholders, with the aim of aligning labour market needs and developing concrete employment measures.

During the interactive discussion, participants exchanged experiences and identified key labour market challenges, including the mismatch between educational curricula and labour market needs, the shortage of qualified workforce and insufficient cooperation between the public and private sectors. Additional challenges were also highlighted, including the lack of a legal framework for dual education, limited reskilling opportunities, workforce emigration, the presence of informal and seasonal employment, as well as the impact of social benefits on work motivation.

The conclusions of the meeting will serve as a basis for further project activities, particularly in analysing the local context and adapting good practices to the needs of the labour market in Sarajevo Canton.

On the second day, a working meeting of project partners was held, focusing on planning upcoming activities and further guiding the work of the URBACT Local Group.