Matching Supply with Demand to Improve Working Lives

Improving the youth labor market has become a huge issue for young women and men. But what if a skills forecasting model could start to address this issue? On April 14, 2016, the representatives of the NET-MED Youth Employment Working Group in Israel met with an External Expert in employment and skills anticipation to discuss ways to improve the Israeli labor market.

The expert developed a skills forecasting model which aims to predict future supply and demand in various professions. This model can then be used to determine the state’s economic and educational policies. Similar models have been successfully implemented in Canada, the United States and several European countries as well as in other NET-MED Youth countries. They provide governments, workers and employers with an informational tool they can use to improve the labor market.

Forecasting labor market trends that are relevant to young people  is a significant focus of the Israeli model. The meeting with the External Expert was an opportunity to discuss the role of youth in the labor market, as well as the unique difficulties they face.

NET-MED Youth’s Employment Working Group has been studying these subjects for the past year. Under the guidance of a local Employment Expert, young people learned about the structure and characteristics of the Israeli labor market. They met with worker organizations, labor market specialists and government officials to discuss these topics. Three main issues were identified as the most pressing for youth: exploitation of young workers’ rights, work-life balance, and the lack of high quality vocational training. During the conversation with the Experts, the Working Group members presented these challenges and discussed ways in which a skills forecasting model could help address them.

The Youth Working Group members believe that a skills forecasting model will not only help match supply with demand, but also improve the quality of life and well-being of workers in the labor market. Predicted future trends can help individuals make better career choices and enable the government to implement more accurate policies.

“We felt that our conversation with the Experts was productive, with many significant insights into the ways in which this model could be used to improve youth’s place in the labor market. We also expressed our desire to take part in the National Expert Team that will discuss this model. As part of this team, we will be able to promote the implementation of public policy for youth in Israel based on the results,” said a young member of the Working Group.