9. Conclusion

In 2002 the ESS completed most of the tasks it had set itself in the business plan. There were some departures in connection with the number of people entitled under the rights stemming from unemployment insurance and participation in active employment policy programmes; these were primarily due to the slightly different conditions on the labour market to those originally expected. The overall results of the number of unemployed people to find employment and the structure of unemployment show that, in 2002, the ESS once again played an important and positive role on the labour market.

A summary of the main indicators of ESS activities in 2002:

For the second year running there were fewer than 100,000 registered unemployed people; at the end of December 2002, there were 99,607 unemployed people registered with the ESS, which was a fall of 4.5% on December 2001. A comparison between the various categories of unemployed people at the end of the year shows an increase in the number of first-time jobseekers; at the end of 2002 there were 21,803 more than at the end of 2001 (a rise of 3.6%). The number of women fell, but less than the average (51,378, down by 3%), as did the number of unemployed people aged between 40 and 50 (23,455, down by 3.3%). The fall in the number of unemployed people aged under 26 (25,365, down by 4.8%), long-term unemployed people (52,000, down by 8.8%), people unemployed due to bankruptcy (9,469, down by 11.9%), people aged over 50 (22,851, down by 14.6%) and permanently redundant workers (12,540, down by 22.9%) was higher than average.

The registered unemployment rate is calculated and officially announced by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. In 2002, 11.6% of the active population was unemployed, which was the same as in 2001. On average, 10.4% of active men and 13.1% of active women were unemployed. In comparison with 2001, the unemployment rate for men was the same; for women, it was 0.2 percentage points lower than in 2001. The unemployment rate for December was 11.3%, which was also the lowest in 2002; in all other months except June, when it was the same, the rate was higher.

Through a professional approach and, in particular, through intensified and improved cooperation with employers (1,960 visits to employers were carried out), the ESS exceeded the set job placement targets for unemployed people; this was despite the lower demand for labour. The ESS planned for 45,000 job placements and achieved 47,026, which was the same as in 2001; in connection with this it needs to be pointed out that demand in 2002 was 2.9% lower. These good figures were primarily the result of intensive cooperation with employers, where a great deal of attention was devoted to encouraging the employment of difficult-to-employ categories of unemployed people and effective implementation of active employment policy measures. By the end of 2002 the number of unemployed people was 4.5% lower than in 2001.

In 2002 the unemployment structure improved as the share of long-term unemployed people (unemployed for over one year) fell from 54.7% to 52.2%, and of those aged over 50 from 25.6% to 22.9%. The share of unemployed people without qualifications and of women in the total number of unemployed people fell by one percentage point. In comparison with 2001, the share of redundant workers in total unemployment also fell, from 25.9% to 22.1%. Structural changes were achieved primarily with the aid of a target-oriented active employment policy, where job placements for difficult-to employ unemployed people was given precedence. To reduce regional differences in unemployment, employment programmes targeted regions where unemployment was above average, meaning that those regions were provided with more funding for these purposes.

In 2002, 40,311 new participants joined employment programmes, 32,638 of whom were unemployed; other cases included redundant workers and disabled workers in sheltered workshops. With the help of these programmes, 11,635 people secured employment. Most of the new participants joined training and education (16,234) and public works programmes (7,552 in 2,072 programmes).

The ESS rationalised the procedure of submitting applications for scholarships; candidates can now test the possibilities of acquiring a scholarship by using a special application form on the internet. In 2002 the ESS disbursed scholarships to 50,094 recipients of national and Zois scholarships and 2,633 unemployed people in the educational Programme 5000.

To enable more effective job placement and better cooperation with employers during the study, the ESS set up the e-Exchange of Zois Scholarship Recipients, which enabled direct internet connection between scholarship recipients and employers.

In 2002 the ESS made payments to 24,216 people on the basis of their unemployment insurance rights: unemployment benefits were received by an average of 18,743 unemployed people, and unemployment assistance by 5,473.

In 2002 the ESS issued a total of 33,410 work permits: 17,722 employment permits, 5,530 seasonal work permits, 3,666 personal work permits and 3,218 permits for work, and received 3,274 registrations of commencement of work.

During the year the ESS provided various materials for the needs of the professional public, both internal and external, which included statistical overviews (Monthly Information) and information on unemployment trends, analytical surveys of individual labour market segments and the 2001 Annual Report. It also maintained and updated the website and published written material for clients (brochures, posters, etc.).

Following the new Rules of Internal Organisation, the ESS continued with the adjustment of its internal organisation to the changes on the labour market in order to ensure greater transparency of competences and responsibilities, clearer and more rational division of labour, and accountability of executives, management and staff at the ESS.

The ESS is continuing with its work on the Quality Project, within which it has already begun to introduce standards for ESS services for the unemployed and employers; these standards were formulated within the twinning project and the objective is to obtain the ISO certificate for ESS services in the coming years.

The ESS continued to rationalise (optimise, control) financial and others costs of ESS operations. This is corroborated by the ESS financial indicators, which show that the ESS overall expenditure was, in real terms, 3% lower than in 2001. This is the result of the adaptation of the organisation to the needs of the labour market, the rationalisation of procedures, and systematic and constant internal controls.

Preparations for joining the EU took place primarily in the following three areas: preparations for setting up the EURES system; coordination of the rights stemming from unemployment insurance; and tasks relating to the European Social Fund.

The ESS has played a very important role in activating local partners to prepare and submit projects for the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs for Phare 2001 – “Strengthening Slovenia at the Local Level (Social Integration)” tender aimed at expanding employment opportunities for difficult-to-employ categories of people and people still in employment but under the threat of losing their jobs.

The ESS also played an active role in the Phare Savinjska tender by encouraging the preparation of projects in that area that will facilitate education and training for 1,200 unemployed people; 150 jobs are envisaged.

The ESS assumed responsibility for the operative tasks of implementation of the programme of Removing Educational Deficits among the unemployed for the allocation of state funding for 2002. The tender attracted 10,251 applications, of which 1,811 were approved in line with the criteria and the funding available.