Return to Work: Work-Based Learning and the Reintegration of Unemployed Adults into the Labour Market. Working Paper No 21

Low-qualified adults have experienced a greater rise in unemployment than any other group in Europe. What particular barriers are they facing in (re-)entering the labour market? How can VET be used in active labour market policies to help overcome these barriers? How can training programmes be designed to address the particular needs of this target group? This report shows how work-based learning (WBL) programmes which include key competence development can make an important contribution. WBL offers a way of learning which is different and has the potential to be more attractive and suitable than "traditional" school-based forms, especially for those with previous negative experience. Its potential comes not only from the mode of delivery, but also from the knowledge, skills and competences it can foster and a range of other benefits, such as the opportunity to connect with potential employers. The following are appended: (1) European reference framework of key competences; (2) Interviews; (3) Case study information; and (4) Case study example. [This work was carried out under Cedefop's service contract AO/ECVL/ADEHM/ReturnToWork/004/11.]