In the Danube Region a major challenge arises from the fact that EUSDR countries operate with different national statistical systems. Therefore, identifying comparable national and regional indicators is a necessity to reach the common objectives of the Danube Strategy.
The present story is about how EUSDR Priority Area 9 – People and skills, jointly coordinated by Austria, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine managed to cooperate in order to develop a helpful instrument providing evidence-based data in the areas of education and labour market for the entire region.
As a key aspect in policy development related to education and labour market is represented by relevant, reliable, consistent and up-to-date information, available comparable data enables accurately definition of the current status of the territories and proposes effective evidence-based policies.
By fostering a joint and cooperative process that involved the Steering Group and experts in statistics and data from EUSDR countries, PA 9 facilitated the dialogue among region’s actors which resulted into the development of Danube Region Monitor People and Skills. The first report was published in 2019 with the focus on the developments since the start of the implementation of the EUSDR in 2011.
Thanks to this report, decision-makers from all the Danube Region have evidence-based data on the dynamics in the education and labour market in individual countries and, in a comparative approach, in the Danube Region as a whole. At the same time, they can better emphasize positive developments, such as the trend towards higher qualifications in all Danube Region Countries or the dynamic change in the employment rate, which is in the Danube Region higher than the average for the EU Member States (EU-28).
PA 9 is currently working on the elaboration of the ‘Danube Region Monitor 2021’ which will be dedicated to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the data of the Danube Region Monitor should be easily available, an online database will be developed in addition to the annual reports.
For further information, check the PA9 website: https://peopleandskills.danube-region.eu/danube-region-monitor-2/.
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