Gátt - 2009, Síða 32

32
F R Æ Ð S L U M I Ð S T Ö Ð A T V I N N U L Í F S I N S
G Á T T – Á R S R I T – 2 0 0 9
A B S T R A C T
With the bank crisis in the autumn 2008 and the deep reces-
sion that followed, the whole working environment and
the tasks of everyone in continuing education and training
changed drastically. The number of the unemployed rose
swiftly, and they faced recession and lack of work over a
considerable period of time in their field of knowledge and
experience. Under such conditions it is of vital importance,
especially for those who have little formal education, to have
an opportunity to add to their education in new fields and
thus more readily find a new occupation.
It is decisive for those who work in continuing education
and training to have a comprehensive understanding of those
who seek their services so that staff and money can be as
efficiently employed as possible. Additionally, it is important
understand how the combination of the group changes with
time and that some prognosis be available for how the situa-
tion will develop for the moths to come. The target group of
the lifelong learning centres and the Education and Training
Service Centre (FA) are mainly those who have limited for-
mal education or training and are past secondary school age.
An effort has been made to reach people in this category
and provide additional education and training for them, and
now with the recession this task has become more pressing
and extensive as the number of unemployed has risen. Even
though the “target group” is not only those out of work, it is
evident that this is the group with the most pressing needs,
especially the long-time unemployed.
The following is a sketch of the unemployment during
the last few months and how if affects different groups. The
focus is on those past twenty years of age with limited edu-
cation after compulsory education; that is the target group of
the FA and the lifelong learning centres.