Untapped talent in the workplace

The labour market in Limburg is struggling. Employers are looking for people, while at the same time a lot of talent remains unused. According to the Limburg Employers' Association (LWV), an important part of the solution lies not only in new inflow, but rather in looking differently at the people who are already there.

"It's not just about intake," say Floor Salden and Cecile van Eekelen, project managers labour market & education at the LWV. "It's mainly about being a good employer. As an employer, how do you look at your staff? And how do you facilitate people so that they can do their work well and continue to develop?"

The LWV not only connects employers in Limburg with each other, but also helps companies advance in terms of content. From that role, the employers' association works on various initiatives that support organisations in a future-proof HR approach. Two examples are LimburgHR and the LLO-Collective.

Learning with and from each other: LimburgHR

In LimburgHR, employers from different sectors are brought together to think about HR issues together. By sharing experiences and looking for solutions together.

"Whether you work in healthcare or engineering, many HR issues turn out to be surprisingly similar," Cecile explains. "Employers own their own issues, but sometimes need a facilitator to reach new insights together. We take that role."

In practice, groups arise around themes such as absenteeism, staff development or the impact of AI in the workplace. Employers exchange experiences, learn from each other and explore new directions in their human resources policies.

"The interesting thing is that this gets you beyond standard solutions," says Floor. "By looking together, new perspectives often emerge."

Invisible barriers in the workplace

At the same time, there is something at play that often remains under the radar: employees who struggle with basic skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic or digital operations.

In North Limburg, as many as 33% of residents have limited basic skills. Interestingly, this concerns not only non-native speakers, but also people born and raised in the Netherlands. Shame usually ensures that these problems remain invisible, even to employers.

"There are people who have been doing their job well for years, but who, for example, cannot open their digital payslip or have trouble using a staff app," Jacqueline Jennen, project manager of the LLO Collective, tells us. "Employers often don't even know that."

Boosting basic skills: the LLO-Collective

The LLO-Collective (Lifelong Development) responds to this. This programme, made possible by a grant from the National Growth Fund, brings together Limburg municipalities, educational institutions and employers to make in-service training more accessible to this target group.

"Training takes place on or around the shop floor and is tailor-made for each employer," Jacqueline explains. "Think about learning to read work instructions better, dealing with digital systems or understanding safety regulations."

For employers, participation is free of charge. However, it does require commitment from the organisation. Cecile: "We speak the language of both education and employers. This allows us to bridge the gap and ensure that pathways remain practical and feasible."

The goal is broader than just individual development. The LLO Collective also wants to strengthen cooperation between employers, education and municipalities, so that learning and working become naturally linked.

Looking differently at talent

According to Cecile and Floor, this is an important key for tomorrow's labour market. "Employers often look for the perfect profile," says Cecile. "While in their own organisations there are already people walking around with a lot of potential. With the right support, you can develop that talent further."

By bringing employers together through LimburgHR and by tackling basic skills practically through the LLO Collective, the LWV helps companies look at their staff differently. "Not just at functions or diplomas, but at people and their development potential."