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Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

autonomous career choices and who have unleashed their potential to be fully
participative in the economy and society.

1.2. Objective and scope of study

This study follows up on previous work by Cedefop on guidance for immigrants.
In 2011, Cedefop raised a discussion on how guidance policy, practice and
research should be further developed to support the labour market integration of
immigrants across the European Union, by organising a peer-learning event
dedicated to this issue. The conclusions (Cedefop, 2011f) from this debate
highlighted a number of key-messages addressing policy, practice and research.
At policy level, greater engagement of social partners is key to the success
of guidance activities for immigrants and to multilevel engagement of different
policy areas. Immigrant community involvement in the design, development and
delivery of interventions (mediation, organising capacity, role model building, and
advocacy functions) was seen as a core element of a new, necessary type of
guidance services, and an important success factor.
From a practice perspective, the effectiveness of guidance is greatly
increased by higher responsiveness and adaptation to migrant communities and
their cultures. Practitioners’ multicultural and networking skills are important for
successful provision.
Structured and harmonised monitoring systems should be put into place, to
assess the quality of the outcomes resulting from different approaches and
activities and to allow for further research into ways of improving the provision
these services.
The main purpose of this Cedefop report is to highlight effective guidance
practices across Europe that contribute to increasing the work adaptability of
immigrants, validating their relevant learning and work experiences, raising their
qualification levels and improving their employability. Special emphasis is given
to third-country immigrants and citizens of countries undergoing transition
processes under the Schengen agreement.
Through its identification of practices and discussion, this report provides
insights into key issues on guidance for the labour market integration of migrants,
which are useful for different stakeholder groups.
Policy-makers will find useful discussion on how to develop guidance
services which successfully support the labour market integration of newly-
arrived immigrants: how to improve labour market matching by establishing
strategies aiming at the recognition and elevation of immigrants’ qualifications as
well as the quality of the labour market information provided. The study also

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