In today’s competitive and fast-changing labor market, there’s an urgent need to support adults without higher education to develop and update their skills.
The Springboard is a groundbreaking partnership between the business, philanthropic and social change sectors, working together to advance governmental reforms and increased investment in training programs.
When done correctly, training can reduce unemployment, increase productivity, and improve standards of living. It also benefits employers by helping to bridge the skills gap.
Since most Israelis who lack higher education are from the social and geographic periphery, investing in quality training enhances social mobility and equality.
Why do we need the Springboard partnership?
- The changes in the labor market triggered by COVID-19 have left hundreds of thousands of Israelis lacking the relevant skills and knowledge. They need professional training so as to transition to new roles within the workforce.
- The government is underinvesting in the development of workers’ skills and capabilities. It’s failing to keep up with the rapidly shifting landscape of the labor market.
- There is currently a shortage of tens of thousands of professionals within the Israeli workforce. Many employers need professional workers and are willing to participate in their training, but the government does not yet partner with most of them.
- There is a longstanding problem within the Israeli economy of low productivity. Half of Israel’s high school graduates don’t continue on to higher education. Lacking essential knowledge and skills, their employment opportunities are limited. It’s time we invested in them.
What are our benchmarks of success?
- A significant expansion in the supply of publicly-funded quality training programs. Our goal: 50,000 adults trained each year (as opposed to 14,000 adults per year in recent years) in a wide range of industries and fields, throughout the country, and from all population groups.
- Employers at the center: Employers are full partners in the development and implementation of training courses, including providing work experience within their workplaces, job placement, participation in subsidizing the training costs or offering promotions to workers who receive training.
- Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness: The regulatory mechanism has to be focused on measuring the outcomes of the training courses and has to minimized the bureaucratic requirements.
- Assistance to participants during the training period: Subsistence grants and/or loans are needed to be provided to participants who are not eligible for unemployment benefits.
What do our Springboard members do?
- Influence policy: Share their rich knowledge and experience so as to present the government with concrete policy proposals with significant added value.
- Mobilize support for our goals: Participate in meetings with decision makers, in Knesset meetings, in conferences and panel discussions, and appear in the media.
- Meet and connect with other stakeholders in the field: Our partners come from civil society, the business sector, and the philanthropic sector. They help us reach and enlist new partners to enhance the Springboard’s reach and impact.
- Assist in financing the costs of the Springboard partnership: Our financial donors are partners in the Steering Committee, which sets the Springboard’ goals and strategy and discusses dilemmas that arise.
Specific Objectives
Building support for increased investment in training based on these findings
Implementation of a government study demonstrating the pilot’s effectiveness
Implementation of a government pilot program (or programs) based on these new principles
Building broad support among stakeholders, decision makers, and the general public for our reform agenda
Building broad support among stakeholders, decision makers, and the general public for our reform agenda
Implementation of a government pilot program (or programs) based on these new principles
Implementation of a government study demonstrating the pilot’s effectiveness
Building support for increased investment in training based on these findings
Who are the beneficiaries of the Springboard partnership?
Higher-wage skilled workers whose jobs are at risk due to automation and other changes and need to transition to a new profession.
Low-wage skilled workers who want to increase their income and improve their skills.
Adults over the age of 18 who are entering the workforce for the first time, or are re-entering it after significant absences, and want to acquire a profession.
Unemployed workers.
Some Springboard’s Successes (so far)….
- Increasing government investment: The government allocated NIS 1.5 billion for 2020-2021 for the expansion and improvement of the training system.
- Full unemployment benefits for participants in training programs: The government responded to our request and postponed until December 2021 the statutory cut of 30% in unemployment benefits for people who are participating in training programs. We are working on a permanent cancellation of the offset.
- The Ministry of Labor adopted “The Green Track,” an innovative model that we developed to enable employers and training institutions to initiate and receive full funding for training courses that are relevant to the current labor market.
- Motivating employers to take part in professional training: As a result of our efforts, the government began in 2020 to invest in the proactive recruitment of employers, including small and medium-sized businesses, to take part in training and job placements.
Funding Partners
Partners
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