Munich, Germany
The City of Munich, Germany launched the Employment and Qualification Programme, which includes more than 100 projects that aim at improving employment prospects of more disadvantaged people.
With a funding of around 23 million euros annually, the MQB provides around 1 200 employment, training and retraining opportunities for unemployed individuals, around 3 000 advisory services as well as targeted support for around 130 long-term unemployed.
The key objectives of the Employment and Qualification (MBQ) Programme is to provide learning and upskilling opportunities, and to increase job prospects for unemployed people, women, migrants and the self-employed.
The MBQ Programme includes more than 100 projects that offer training opportunities and facilitates transitions across sectors thanks to the cooperation between the city and companies. To address the city’s labour market challenges, the MBQ programme has four areas of intervention and objectives:
Reducing long-term unemployment and support in finding a job.
Promoting gender equality at the workplace: this area targets women who are looking to change careers or who are preparing for self-employment, as well as women who face challenges in the workplace.
Easing the transition from education/higher education to the world of work: this area targets young people, students, graduates and highly skilled international workers.
Improving knowledge and expertise in companies and industries: this area targets freelancers and entrepreneurs (often migrants) who run SMEs.
The MBQ Programme is provided online and incorporates digital skills training and development for participants. In addition, in response to the increasing opportunities in the healthcare sector, the Programme includes skills development opportunities in the nursing sector.
The main stakeholders involved in the project are the Department of Labour and Economic Development, the Department of Social Services (managing the programme), the Munich Job Centre and the Munich Employment Agency (coordination of specific projects and actions). In addition, programmes developed through in-depth dialogue with key labour policy institutions, and in collaboration with other local organisations and partners enable the city to constantly improve the services provided in line with the changing needs of the residents and companies in the city.
With funding of around EUR 23 million annually, the MQB provides around 1 200 employment, training and retraining opportunities for unemployed individuals, around 3 000 advisory services as well as targeted support for around 130 long-term unemployed.
One of the key success factors of the MQB is its ability to continuously adapt to changing labour market needs, based on feedback from the range of local stakeholders that are engaged in the programme. Moreover, on the programme website, everyone is invited to continuously provide feedback, which is taken into consideration by the programme to improve the projects.
OECD (2022), "Future-proofing adult learning systems in cities and regions: A policy manual for local governments", OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers, No. 2022/03, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/11fa26cc-en.
