Dear Sirs and Madams,
Once again, the ESS prepared a Presentation Review, an introductory publication, in which you will find condensed information regarding the ESS work in 2006. We are publishing it since 1999 on and we shall endeavour to form such an abridged version in the future as well, as it seems, according to the readers’ responses, to have been well received in this fast pace of life. For all those in need of more and more in depth information, let me inform you that we publish them on the ESS website, which, in view of the constant increase in the number of visitors, is becoming increasingly useful and, in my opinion, also more friendly. We will endeavour to develop and upgrade web services in the future as well, as the main goal of my four-year management of the ESS is to make an effective Employment Service, which will be friendly to the users of our services.

Much has already been done and a lot of work awaits us in the future. Thus, in 2006, we started to introduce new services, which are more accessible to our clients. We introduced providing of information for unemployed persons regarding employment possibilities via SMS, which signifies the introduction of more contemporary forms of communication. This is precisely where more of our future attention is required. In 2007, we intend to continue with the development of new self-service forms, which will be available to the unemployed from their homes or at the local offices or at Centres for vocational guidance and information, which function within the ESS, we must establish a modern call centre, which will be an upgrade of the existent communication paths, etc. By means of all these methods we wish to increase accessibility of complete help for the individual in planning a vocational path and searching for employment.

We all know that the principal task of the ESS is to directly and indirectly contribute to the increase of employment and employability of the population in Slovenia. In 2006, the ESS was successful in its mission, as the registered unemployment lowered on average by 6.6 % to 85,836 registered unemployed persons in comparison to the previous year, and the rate of registered unemployment calculated and officially published by the SORS amounted to 8.6 % at the end of 2006. Thus, for the fifth year in a row, we noted less than one hundred thousand registered unemployed persons at the end of the year, and, in the last two months of the year, even less than eighty thousand. These are favourable results but we must not rest on our laurels, as we all know that there is a personal story behind every number, which leaves mostly pain, distress and powerlessness when one loses work. That is why, in the following four years, I wish to devote special attention to employment counsellors, who must become the fundamental centre of happening for the unemployed, as well as for the employers. If we wish to achieve this, we must provide employment counsellors with suitable interdisciplinary training so that they will be able to counsel the unemployed, follow them from the beginning of registration into the records until employment, and, on the other hand, so that they will be able to make suitable contacts with the employers. We will be able to achieve this by increasing the number of employment counsellors, their speciality for treatment of persons, who are more difficult to employ. I believe we must have several types of counsellors specialized for work with the so-called hard core of unemployment. This problem was clearly reflected in 2006 as well, as the structure of the unemployed in 2006 deviated from the planned one, whereby it is important to emphasize that the gender and age structure continued to get worse. The average share of unemployed women increased to 54.8 %, and the share of people aged 50 and more increased to 25.4 %. Target decrease of structural unemployment is a lengthy process influenced by various factors, and thus significant shifts are not possible over night. We are certain, however, that the ESS can nevertheless help to a certain extent, especially with quality placement of the unemployed and by implementing target-oriented active employment policy measures.

In conclusion, let me mention another key piece of information, which marked the work of the ESS in 2006: through the ESS, 53,788 unemployed persons got employed, which is 3,305 more than in 2005, whereas 3,635 unemployed persons got employed through public works. Without a doubt, this is very encouraging, as it represents the fruit of the development of a partnership approach in solving unemployment problems. I believe this is the only way to achieve the planned goals, this is the only way to quickly respond to the labour market changes. In 2006, we noted 2,459 visits with employers, which is 28 % more than in 2005. We must continue with this, as such an approach leads to the achievement of our fundamental goal, which is greater employment of the unemployed.

So, there is a lot of work. However, because I believe in my co-workers and in the support of the central ministry and the local environment, I believe we will succeed in achieving the goals set. All with one single purpose: for the benefit and greatest pleasure possible of the users of the ESS services!

Marija Poglajen
General Director