The on the job training measure is in line with the Europe 2020 strategy. Also, the measure is one of the measures of the Youth guarantee.

The intervention aims to reduce unemployment by simplifying the transition from unemployment to work, in line with the wider EU target of achieving a 75% employment rate for the working-age population (20-64 years).

It is also in line with the Employment Guidelines and with several EU instruments such as the European Social Fund (ESF) implemented under the priority axis to improve ‘access to employment’. The programme has been co-financed by the ESF since 2004.

Slovenia entered a second recession in 2012 and has emerged from it only in 2014. In Slovenia, the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 9.2 % in May 2015 from 10.1% in 2013.

The number of unemployed in December 2013 was 124 015, and has dropped at the end of 2014 to 119 458.

However, unemployment remains high in comparison to the pre-crisis period in 2008. More than half of the unemployed have been out of work for one year or more. The most vulnerable groups among the long-term unemployed are older than 50 years and low-skilled.

Youth unemployment decreased to 17.0% in March 2015 from 19.3% in December 2013. The number of unemployed youth was 32 523 in December 2013 and has dropped at the end of 2014 to 30 151.

The programme:

• Represents an active support measure for people with insufficient work skills and proficiency;
• Supports the inclusion of unemployed people in working processes in real work environments to help them obtain the knowledge, experience and capacity to perform specific/concrete work, with the aim of helping them get employment and making them more competitive in the labour market;
• Provides a higher level of competency to the unemployed;
• Is beneficial to employers; and
• Gives active support to employers that are in the process of hiring new employees.

On the job training targets unemployed persons registered at the ESS for at least three months. The duration of on the job training is one month in the case of training on simple jobs, and two months if training takes place in more demanding jobs. In the case of unemployed persons that are aged 30 years or less, on the job training can last three months.

During on the job training participants remain registered with the ESS. Before the start of training, candidates must undergo a medical examination and sign a contract with the ESS about inclusion in the programme. On the job training must be done under the expert guidance of a mentor provided by the employer. Mentoring should be done to the necessary extent, but at least to the extent of 30 hours per month. One mentor can simultaneously train up to five participants. Training may take up to eight hours per day and a maximum of 40 hours per week. It should not take place on Sundays and holidays. It is carried out continuously.

Employers can claim reimbursement of eligible costs to support training. Based on the estimated value, the cost of executing training is EUR 244 for one month, EUR 369 for two months, and EUR 492 for three months per participant.

In the period October 2009 until the end of 2012, 11 518 unemployed persons were included in the programme, of which 55.2% were women.

A total of 63 % of people who had participated in the programme were still in employment 12 months after having completed the training (with the same or another employer).

In the period March 2012 until the end of 2014 more than 11 569 unemployed persons participated in the programme, of which 58.1 % were women.

In this time period, a total of 40 % of participants were still in employment 12 months after having completed the training (with the same or another employer). A slight fall was noted in the percentage of participants keeping their job, however not all the participants in this time period are included in these results, as they had not completed their training more than 12 months ago.