Activities of the National Observatory of Employment and Training

The National Observatory provides its activities in following areas:

• Monitoring and analyses of mutual links between the labour market and the initial as well as continuing vocational education and training.
• Development and testing of methodology for regular forecasting of qualification needs of the labour market at the national, sectoral and regional levels; enhancing a relevant information base and an institutional background for regular forecasting and dissemination of information to users.
• Project design and coordination in the field of improving responsiveness of education and training to the needs of the labour market and promotion of the development of institutional links at the regional and national levels.
• Transfer of know-how and preparation for monitoring and evaluation related to the use of the European Social Fund at the national and regional levels.
• Monitoring and dissemination of outcomes of international activities focusing on research into vocational education and qualification needs of the labour market.
• Providing expertise and guidance for new candidate countries.

The Observatory provides information about the development of human resources, collects data and analyses trends in education and the labour market against the background of social and economic changes. As part of the analyses extensive surveys are conducted, the results of which facilitate up-to-date information concerning specific areas that are not covered by regular statistical data. The Observatory undertakes expert and research studies, and it is involved in international research (co-operation with the Cedefop, the OECD, EU framework research programmes). Furthermore, it coordinates pilot projects at both national and regional level and provides methodological counselling in the field of evaluation and monitoring of ESF programmes.

The outputs of the National Observatory's activities are published in the form of reports and studies focusing on various areas of education, qualification needs and employment, and also in the form of statistical data concerning selected aspects of education and vocational training and the labour market. Based on such information, recommendations are formulated in order to support the development of initial as well as continuing education and training, and to set forth priorities of programmes co-financed from the ESF.