By implementing this project, we aimed to redefine the integration of vulnerable groups into the labor market in North Macedonia. Our objectives were to transfer EU job carving/crafting knowledge as a work (re)integration approach, support the inclusion of vulnerable groups by strengthening their employment pathways, capacitate enterprises to serve as exemplary inclusive employers, and enable mutual learning on new approaches that support inclusion and diversity in employment. We challenged the societal myths that everyone seeking a job will find one and that those who have fallen through the social safety net have done so by choice. These misconceptions, highlighted the need for better understanding and support for vulnerable populations. Central to our initiative was the strategy of social mentoring and job redesign techniques like job carving and job crafting. This approach aimed to create win-win situations where enterprises benefit from the talents of vulnerable people, and these individuals add value to firms and society. Additionally, the project aimed to increase awareness among enterprises and public authorities that productive, and sustainable employment can be achieved through cross-sectoral cooperation and innovation.
The project is driven by the need of fighting apparent disparities such as high numbers of unemployed persons vs. lack of labour force and demand for a skilled workforce or brain drain vs. lost human capital. Providing sustainable solutions to such challenges is complex and requires support in the process of work adaptation and retention of the vulnerable person in the labour market and cross-sectoral cooperation (enterprises, public institutions, CSOs). Such intervention is the social mentoring, an activation programme developed by the project applicant, the Association “PUBLIC”. With this project, social mentoring is upskilling via acquiring new knowledge in job carving and job crafting. The rearrangement of work tasks that takes place within job carving and job crafting can lead to new job opportunities and add value to all involved: the enterprises as well as the people re-entering the labour market. Employers can benefit from guidance on how to increase efficiency and productivity by using the skills of all employees to their best advantage. This can be done through re-assigning jobs to match skills, re-organising workflows to increase productivity, and identifying unmet needs in the workplace through negotiating.