Over 1,500 job seekers explored opportunities with 37 employers at the job and training fair.
By Els Verhaeghe
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a job fair with job seekers and employers in conversation.
The City of Antwerp and VDAB, together with Atlas, organized the second edition of JobStart, a fair for jobs and training. More than 1,500 job seekers met 37 employers on October 19 and 21.
In addition to exploring job opportunities, visitors could participate in workshops and sign up for training programs. At the end of September, there were 43,848 vacancies open in the province of Antwerp, with 11,858 in the city of Antwerp. The province has 72,459 unemployed individuals, of whom 34,456 reside in the city. Through this job fair, VDAB and the City of Antwerp aim to connect supply and demand in the labor market and help companies fill their open vacancies.
On Monday, job seekers could explore jobs and training in the hospitality, retail, care, maritime, and administrative sectors. On Wednesday, the fair focused on technical profiles in areas such as construction, industry, logistics, and administration.
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"In Antwerp, we want to get more people working. With our 'Antwerpen Werkt!' employment plan, we further solidified our collaboration with VDAB and other partners earlier this year. Job seekers and employers are already reaping the benefits, including at this second edition of JobStart. Ultimately, only one result matters: more Antwerp residents taking the step towards training or a job, and more employers finding the talent they seek. That's why we continue to invest in an approach that leaves no one behind!"
Prior to the fair, the partners organized preparatory sessions for around 300 job seekers, teaching them how to present themselves, highlight their talents, and explore specific vacancies and training programs.
At the job fair itself, at least 217 follow-up appointments resulted from conversations with potential employers. At the training fair, 375 job seekers had an advisory meeting about a training program they wished to pursue.
Of the visitors, 80% have an active file with VDAB. Of these, 37% are women, and 66% are between 25 and 50 years old. Regarding educational level, 38% are short-cycle educated, 33% are medium-cycle educated, and 27% are highly educated. Approximately 90% have at least basic knowledge of Dutch. Additionally, 54% have been unemployed for less than a year.
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"This week, we have once again forged valuable connections between job seekers and employers. Job seekers who still need training before they can start their desired job could register for it on-site. Thus, this job and training fair is an important step towards sustainable employment for many attendees and, above all, a great example of the collaboration between the City of Antwerp, Atlas, and VDAB."
