Our skills for the job market
Research & Guidance
This business area focuses on research and development in the area of personal labor market policy programs and projects, methods and processes as well as advice and support for implementation at national and international levels. A special focus is on the topic of guidance (educational, vocational and career advice).
Our credo is “Knowledge guides practice” – we ask the right questions, address the most pressing challenges and guarantee that measures are used that have the optimal effect.
Contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
Head of Research & Guidance business area
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Guidance
Gen Z Cult - Appreciative company training culture for Generation Z
2024-2025
Dual vocational training, especially apprenticeships, is an essential part of the training system in Austria and Germany. However, in recent years, registrations of trainees/apprentices have decreased, while at the same time dropout rates have increased. As a result, companies are affected by a shortage of skilled workers and workers and are struggling with unfilled training and apprenticeship positions. Companies also often have difficulty adapting to the needs of Gen Z, especially given a heterogeneous age cohort with different social and ethnic backgrounds.
The project Gen Z cult starts with companies and pursues two goals: Firstly, the integration of young people, especially those who are socially disadvantaged, into dual vocational training and apprenticeships should be promoted in order to reduce dropout rates. Secondly, the project aims to combat the shortage of skilled workers in companies by supporting them in creating an appreciative corporate and training culture.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible.
Guidance
Impact measurement of health offers
2023
Since October 2022, participants in various itworks programs have had a 4-week preventative health program every 1 weeks. This consists of practical and theoretical units that are carried out or accompanied by a physiotherapist and a fitness trainer. The aim is to increase the performance of the participants and subsequently their chance of being placed on the job market. On average there are around 200 people in the program. With the aim of observing the effect of this health promotion offer, the project addresses questions about the change in health literacy during the period of participation in the offer and the subjective effect from the perspective of the participants.
Guidance
YOUnite
2022-2025
YOUnite is a project that aims to help overweight young people overcome challenges and improve their employability in the labor market. Obesity affects children's self-esteem and growing up, as almost all affected young people report experiences of bullying and social exclusion. The associated impairment of quality of life and the lack of opportunities in training and on the job market are often ignored or neglected. Being overweight can represent a barrier to the job market and professional success. YOUnite develops and tests training modules on health/medicine, sport, stress, nutrition, awareness-raising and employability in order to successfully and healthily integrate young obese people into the job market. The task of ÖSB Social Innovation is to evaluate these six modules with the help of surveys of participants and trainers in the 4 participating countries.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible.
Guidance
Youth at risk – focus on young people in precarious life situations
2022-2023
As part of this project, the first step is to develop a client typology of young people who take part in the counseling programs implemented in the ÖSB Group. It is currently apparent that many young people in precarious life situations are confronted with very specific difficulties, which is why they are not (yet) considered fit for the job market and/or suitable for training. The aim is to further develop existing support offers and explore the innovation potential. On the one hand, the offers for young people should be more individualized in order to be able to better address the young people's skills and (personal) resources. On the other hand, training companies should be advised and supported through accompanying offers so that the sustainable integration of young people in precarious life situations into company apprenticeships is increased.
Research
BERGAUF - Advice on starting a business for aspiring women
2023-2024
As part of this project, a prototype of a digital information and consulting tool for self-reflection on the start-up skills and strategies of potential female entrepreneurs is being developed. The tool can also be used in a blended guidance setting and is aimed in particular at young women interested in starting a business in precarious life and work situations who are at risk of switching from their precarious position on the job market to precarious (solo) self-employment.
The aim is to promote socially and economically sustainable business start-ups by women. In particular, young women with start-up ambitions should engage with their start-up projects, strategies and skills in a professionally supported reflection process in order to initiate sustainable start-up processes.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible.
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Funding provider
consortium
Schüßler Consulting (LIE, coordinator)
Downloads
Guidance
Evaluation of the special COVID-19 poverty reduction guideline
2023
The aim of the evaluation to be carried out is a structured analysis of the impact of the funding distributed as part of the special COVID-19 poverty reduction guideline. The analysis is based on project reports and qualitative interviews with representatives of the funded projects. The evaluation focuses on the following areas: reaching the target group, sustainability, innovation potential and the handling of administrative processes.
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Funding provider
Download
Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer ProtectionFederal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) (ed.): Evaluation of the special guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection to combat COVID-19 poverty, 2023. Created by: ÖSB Social Innovation, authors: Annika Schönauer / Rudolf Götz / Fynn Thjorben Semken
Guidance
Health sensor for digital work
2022 – 2024 Feet
Digitalization of the world of work brings with it opportunities and risks
The digital transformation of the world of work has increased rapidly in recent years. Technical tools lead to the development of new, digitally organized forms of work and activities: Starting with communication and organizing collaboration between project teams via MS teams, through to control via email tickets or control of resource planning via SAP, countless digital ones are being used, especially in the white-collar sector Tools used. Last but not least, home office including video conferences became the new normal for many employees in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic. In addition, sensory and cognitive assistance systems such as data glasses, digital manuals, learning videos and knowledge management systems are becoming increasingly relevant.
These developments lead to an expansion of opportunities for health-promoting work. For example in the area of collaboration, access to knowledge and the compatibility of paid and care work. At the same time, there is increasing evidence of an increase in psychological problems in connection with the intensive use of digital technologies in professional life. We see, among other things, digital stress, work intensification, external control, loss of boundaries and isolation.
The project goal
The project addresses the following question: How should an analysis and consulting tool be designed that enables companies to shape the increasingly digital organization, management and control of work together with employees in a health-promoting and inclusive manner? The aim is to develop a prototype of an analysis and consulting tool that is suitable for practical use, in close coordination with companies and experts.
contact
Funding provider
Corporate partners
Soundboard
Barbara Covarrubias Venegas, Founder & CEO #virtualspacehero
Isabel Koberwein, expert on health issues in the basic department of the GPA union
Philip Schörpf, Senior Scientist at the research and consulting center for the world of work FORBA and at the Institute for Sociology at the University of Vienna
Gert Lang, health officer at the Austrian Health Fund
Alfons Glück, works council of itworks Personnel Service & Consulting Non-Profit GmbH
Alexandra Weilhartner, Head of Active Aging and Digitalization Business Unit in the ÖSB Group
Download
Further information
Guidance
Reach Out to the “Left-Behind” – improving guidance for working persons from the underprivileged milieu
2022 – 2024 Feet
People on the fringes of society are often not reached by educational offerings. The present project explores the potential of habitus-sensitive counseling approaches in order to build bridges into education for disadvantaged groups of people.
The following products will be developed as part of the project. They are available in English and the respective national language German, Czech or Slovenian:
- Country Reports “Habitus Sensitive Guidance for Underprivileged Milieu” on Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovenia
- Self-Study Manual “Experiences and Cases from working with the Underprivileged Milieu”
- Policy Papers “Habitus Sensitive Guidance – recommendations for policy makers”
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible.
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Funding provider
consortium
Guidance
KickstartEntrepreneurship: Preparing for future entrepreneurship in vocational training
2022 – 2023 Feet
The “KickstartEntrepreneurship” project makes an innovative contribution to vocational training. The focus is on imparting knowledge and skills about entrepreneurship and promoting an innovative, entrepreneurial attitude. In the project, a digital prototype for an AI-supported learning, consulting and recommendation tool is being developed based on decision trees.
Research
Needs assessment and further development of the UGP program
2022
The business incubation program (UGP) is getting old. A lot has changed since the program was established more than 25 years ago - in the job market as well as among AMS customers with start-up ambitions. The Austrian labor market has become more dynamic. The proportion of self-employed people has increased; within the self-employed group, solo self-employed people (self-employed without employees) are in the majority. The strong increase in self-employed women in particular has fueled this development. In addition, the digitalization of the world of work has brought with it numerous new opportunities and forms of independence as well as new challenges for founders in the area of e-governance (FinanzOnline etc.).
Against this background, the UGP needs to be subjected to a critical analysis in order to identify the need to adapt the advisory services to current developments and explore potential for further development.
Research
Pilot study on the potential of digital consulting in case management by fit2work
2022
Due to the Corona pandemic, digital advice (online advice) has become the focus of attention as a central “advice format” – at sponsoring institutions as well as funding agencies. However, digital advice is not new. Numerous studies and textbooks identify strengths, weaknesses, potential and hurdles. Depending on the consultation goal, the subject of the consultation and the context of the roasting, the use of digital formats must be precisely coordinated.
The aim of this survey is to identify the potential of digital advice formats (video advice, email advice, chat advice via messenger services, etc.) for case management as part of f2w personal advice.
Research
Study on women's working poverty - project #we_do
2021 – 2022 Feet
- The study examines the situation of women in working poverty, the supply landscape in Austria and the #we_do project (advice and further training for women in working poverty situations)
- Female working poverty is underestimated in Austria by using an indicator based on household income
- The offer for female working poor is fragmented and not tailored to the needs of the target group - #we_do is the only project in Austria that is specifically aimed at women affected by working poverty
- The combination of individual advice and further training offered in the #we_do project results in a positive result upon completion in 75% of cases and in many cases leads to improvements in income
Research
Evaluation of digital advice at Jobservice Vienna
2021
- The pandemic has favored the use of digital consulting methods - this study looks at the advantages and disadvantages of advising job seekers via telephone and video compared to face-to-face advice. Results are:
- The effectiveness of telephone and video counseling depends largely on the motivation of the participant and the willingness of the counselor
- Hybrid advice offers the necessary flexibility to be able to give those seeking advice good advice in all situations
- Personal conversations at the beginning of the consultation help to build relationships
Research
ready4future - Professional qualification and additional skills for self-employed people and one-person companies in the trade fair and event industry
2020 – 2021 Feet
- A key question that the project discusses is “How can self-employed people in the event industry be specifically strengthened through qualification and skills acquisition?”
- The ready4future project thus contributes to the modernization and internationalization process in vocational training and actively supports the European agenda for new skills and employment
- The discussion and work process will be used to develop a catalog of potential approaches on how the industry can be specifically supported. Topics on the design and use of digital and technological change and the perspectives of lifelong learning play an important role.
- Ready4future sees itself as a strategic partnership - consisting of organizations from Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and Austria - three transnational partner meetings form the cornerstone of the joint collaboration
Research
FuturVoc – map for new professional forms in Europe
2020 – 2021 Feet
- developing one Interactive “map” (prototype) to show the current situation of (purely) digital professions in the countries of the consortium (LIE, AT, DE, CH).
- The identified professions or fields of activity are stored with data on required skills, training paths, activity groups, personality types, etc. A system of filters enables the collected professions to be clustered from different topic perspectives.
- Project partners: i-smARt Trust reg. (LIE Coordinator), ÖSB Social Innovation (formerly ÖSB Studies & Consulting, AT), bbb Office for Vocational Training Planning (DE), ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences (CH).
Guidance
BIB Impulses
2019-2021
Implementation of services within the framework of the framework agreement: Austria-wide coordination and further development of educational advice for adults within the framework of the European Social Fund
As part of this project, ÖSB Social Innovation (formerly ÖSB Studies & Consulting) supports the further development of educational consulting on three levels:
- Support and promotion of a community of practice: including conception and organization of the traditional ones National networking meetings the educational advice Austria; Co-publishing and editing of the specialist medium: Focus on educational advice
- Promoting the Opening up educationally disadvantaged groups about the development of innovative strategies and approaches with and for educational consultants
- promoting the Know-how transfers from Europe to Austria
Related projects:
- Innovation development: educational, vocational and career advice
- Study: Social media in educational, vocational and career advice
- Strategy development: educational, vocational and career advice in the late employment phase
- Dossier: Lifelong Guidance in Austria
24 hour networking. Supraregional networking meeting of the Austrian educational consultancy
19th networking conference on October 21st and 22.10.2021nd, XNUMX in Salzburg.
Subject: Poverty despite work – the working poor in focus. Tasks and approaches for educational consulting
Funded by the European Social Fund and by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research.
Guidance
GIVE – Guidance for Individual Vocations in Europe
2019 – 2021 Feet
The challenge
New forms of work such as solo self-employment, portfolio work or the platform economy are increasingly shaping our working world. With the rapid spread of new forms of work, the trend towards the subjectivization of work that has been noticed since the 1990s is further strengthened through the integration of management tasks into the work of employees. Today, workers are required to largely organize their work themselves and to market themselves as individuals with their individual skills and life contexts on the labor market.
The subjectification of work is also accompanied by the subjectification of the profession. Traditional professions with their clearly defined “professional competencies” and values are becoming “individual professions” – an individual combination of person-centered competencies, experiences and life contexts.
This “liquification” of work and career not only poses major challenges for the individuals affected, but also for the systems and offers that are intended to support individuals in overcoming these challenges. A centrally affected field here is educational and career counseling with its task of providing orientation on questions of education and careers.
The project
The project aims to support educational and career counselors and relevant decision-makers in addressing these challenges by:
- the current trends in the area of work and career are conveyed with all their implications for the balance of power between actors in the labor market, for new forms of precarization and for new “drivers” of careers and demand for qualifications,
- Newly emerging target groups for educational and career advice with their specific support needs are identified (typology),
- Access and adequate consulting approaches for these new target groups are collected/developed and
- Recommendations are made to address the challenge at a structural and strategic level.
This support offer is organized as part of the following project products:
- A self-study manual as well
- an interactive e-learning offer for educational and career advisors and a
- a policy paper for decision-makers.
The products will be available for download here as the project progresses.
The project is being implemented by a European consortium consisting of: ÖSB Social Innovation (formerly ÖSB Studies & Consulting, AT) as coordinator, bbb Office for Vocational Training Planning (OF), i-smARt Trust reg. (LIE), Vyzkumny ustav prace a socialnich veci (CZ).
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Funding provider
Products
GIVE Textbook: Educational advice for employees in new forms of work (DE)
GIVE Textbook: career guidance for clients in New Forms of Work (EN)
Učebnice GIVE: Kariérové poradenství per klienty v nových formách práce (CZ)
GIVE Policy Paper: Educational advice for new forms of work and careers (DE)
GIVE Policy Paper: educational guidance for new forms of work and new careers (EN)
GIVE Policy Paper: Pokyny per vzdělávání v oblasti nových forem práce a povolání (CZ)
GIVE E-Training – educational and career advice for employees in new forms of work (DE/CZ/E)
Research
Value control in companies
2018
- Study on value management in large organizations: “How can a defined culture of values be established and maintained in the organization through the use of value management approaches and instruments?”
- International literature analysis and two case studies with large companies
Research
step2mice: Event Industry Integration
2016-2019
- Development and testing of educational plans, training courses, competency assessments as well as mentor and buddy programs for the employment and integration of refugees, migrants and foreign workers in the MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions)
- Development of the “Diversity Management for Companies Employing Refugees” toolbox
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Project partner
VPLT (DE, lead)
EVVC (DE)
GPOCS (LI)
IT University (DK)
ÖSB Consulting (AT)
Funding provider
Further information
Guidance
BIB Impulses
2015-2019
- Supporting and promoting a community of practice for Austrian educational advice and promoting the inclusion of educationally disadvantaged groups through the development of innovative strategies and approaches with and for educational consultants
- (Strategy) development work (expert working groups), workshops, seminars, event organization, co-publishing and editing of a specialist publication, public relations work for the “Initiative Educational Advice Austria”
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Funding providers
Downloads
Online medium “Educational advice in focus – the specialist medium for educational advice in Austria”
Report on the 16th networking meeting 2015 “Advice at the interface of education and health”
Minutes of the 16th networking meeting 2015 “Advice at the interface of education and health”
Bridges into educational consulting. Raise awareness of educational (advice) people in the workplace
Research
FairPlusCleaning – further training and higher qualifications for employees in the cleaning industry (2017-2018)
2012 – 2013 Feet
- Participation in the creation of the concept
- Research and analysis of existing further training and higher qualification offers, presentation of the results of the survey on the situation of female employees in the cleaning industry and their qualification needs
- Comparative analysis of offers and qualification needs to uncover gaps in offers
- Development of modules for further training and higher qualification of employees
contact
Mag.a Ingrid Pecher
E: ingrid.pecher@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Clients
BMASGK
European Social Fund – IP equality
Further information
Research
Strategy support
2015-2017
- Support in the strategic realignment and development of labor market policy services and funding from the AMS - especially on the topics of "proactive company support, new qualification and induction programs according to company needs" and "support format for people with poor integration prospects"
- Support with concept work, carrying out short research, drafting working group designs, creating text modules
Guidance
TRIAS: Guidance in the workplace
2015 – 2017 Feet
- Development of an innovative approach to outreach educational counseling in a company setting - in the triad: employee - employer - consultant
- Development of a learning volume for self-study as well as a curriculum for educational consultants, piloting, multiplier workshops
- Implementation in personal union with ÖSB Consulting
Research
Skills for Future
2013-2014
- Exchange of expertise as part of the European project “Skills for Future – towards better skills at the labor market through better guidance and education”
- Analysis of actor structures and cooperation modes in the fields of education, labor market, interest representation in AT; Presentation of selected good practice examples as part of mutual learning seminars; Development and publication of recommendations
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Funding provider
EU Progress Program
Project partners
Institute for Postgraduate/University of National and World Economy Studies (BG)
Department for Equal Opportunities – Marche Region (IT)
Downloads
Guidance
Educational, vocational and career advice in the late employment phase
2012-2013
- Development of strategies to promote the accessibility of older people to educational and career advice
- Secondary literature analyses, focus group, expert working group with four one-day meetings, analyzes and recommendations for the “Bildungsberatung Österreich” initiative and the BMB
Research
European Globalization Fund: Advice and support
2015-2020
- Supporting the BMASK, involved companies, AMS and foundation sponsors in setting up possible EGF-financed work foundations and in submitting applications
- EGF system structure, examination of the requirements for an EGF application, development of an implementation concept, creation of a draft application and support with the application
contact
Dr. Rudolf Götz
E: rudolf.goetz@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Client
Project partner
PPSG (Lead and responsible for First Level Control)
Guidance
TRIAS project advisory board
2016 – 2017 Feet
- Establishment of an accompanying project advisory board for the Erasmus+ project “TRIAS: Guidance in the workplace” to promote the implementation of the approach in Austria
- Conception, organization of a kick-off as well as five “feedback loops”, clarification of the requirements for sustainable implementation of the results at funding bodies, institutions and future programs
Research
ESF – implementation and development
1995-2014
- Supporting the AMS in the programming, implementation and implementation of the European Social Fund (ESF)
- Systematic screening of European and ESF-relevant regulations, strategy papers and processes, advice on the development of ESF-cofinanced labor market policy instruments as well as on the implementation of cross-sectional topics, carrying out international research (e.g. on productive aging, gender mainstreaming), moderation of AMS-internal ESF -Conferences, preparation of ESF technical contributions, short study “ESF 1995-2014. Implementation by the AMS – an initial assessment”
Research
Mobility in the EU/EFTA
2015
- Position paper for the AMS Austria as part of the EU network of “Public Employment Services”
- Preparation of the draft, implementation of the Europe-wide comment process, finalization of the position paper
Research
European Social Fund (ESF)
1995-2014
- Analysis: 20 years of ESF implementation by the AMS Austria
- Evaluation of reports, public contributions and statistics, reflection on our own accompanying consulting work, preparation and editing of the short study “ESF 1995-2014. Implementation by the AMS – an initial assessment”
Guidance
Social media in educational, vocational and career advice
2012 – 2013 Feet
- Research study on expanding the use of social media in educational, vocational and career advice for adults
- Expert interviews, study visit to Denmark, analyzes and recommendations for action for the “Initiative Educational Advice Austria” and the Federal Ministry of Education
Guidance
Lifelong guidance in Europe
2010
- Forecast project: Foresight workshops to identify possible social and economic developments in Europe that are relevant for life-long guidance
- Forecasting work, development of future scenarios, mix of methods in the consultation process
Research
Evaluation teaching instead of emptiness. Apprentice coaching and training company coaching
2019
- Accompanying, formative evaluation to review the program’s performance to date
- Survey methods used: Analysis of system-relevant documents, quantitative data analysis of the LLC/LBC data sets, qualitative survey and quantitative survey (online) of the implementers and participants
Research
Evaluation of the pilot project “Jobnet/JobIMPULS method” as part of step2job Vienna
2019
- Accompanying, formative evaluation
- Quantitative evaluation of the participants' master data using descriptive statistics, qualitative interviews with RGS consultants (by telephone) and participants (in person), focus group with BBE consultants
- Review of the JobIMPULS method in groups of participants and its integration into the consultation process within the framework of step2job
Research
Job service plus
2018-2019
- Monitoring of the Jobserviceplus pilot project from itworks Personalservice as part of the Jobservice support facility funded by the AMS Vienna
- Conception and evaluation of participant surveys, evaluation of quantitative participant data along defined indicators, structured collection of feedback from the actors involved, control group comparison, analysis and presentation of the results with a view to a possible rollout
Research
Young people on their way into the world of work
2015
- Preparation of an accompanying practical and experience report on the three youth projects funded by AMS and ESF c'mon 17, step2job4youth and c'monAPP in 2009 and 2015
- Conception and evaluation of surveys of consultants, implementation of workshops, publication and editing of the publication
contact
Mag.a Ingrid Pecher
E: ingrid.pecher@oesb-socialinnovation.at
Project partner
Client
Further information
Research
Educational advice for advancement
2014
- Project monitoring of the two AMS advice and support facilities (BBE) “Educational Advice for Advancement” in Carinthia and Tyrol
- Evaluation of quantitative data, conception and evaluation of surveys of consultants on the consulting approach, educational plan creation, target group specifics, interfaces, innovative content and labor market policy benefits
Gradual employment
2014 – 2016 Feet
- Feasibility study for the development of new subsidized employment offers, in close regional cooperation with companies
- Basic research: outsourcing and employment potential, industrial cooperation in employment projects - including case studies and typification
- Model conception, acquisition of partner companies, conception of pilot projects is carried out by ÖSB Consulting
