ADEM & UEL: 10 years of partnership to promote employment

ADEM and Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises (UEL) celebrated the 10th anniversary of their partnership in favour of employment, in the presence of the Minister of Labour, Georges Mischo and the President of the UEL, Michel Reckinger, as well as company representatives.

A pioneering and exemplary partnership

Created in 2015, the aim of this collaboration is to adapt ADEM's service offering in a targeted way to the concrete needs of businesses, in order to encourage the hiring and inclusion of jobseekers. Every three years, the programme is adjusted to respond to changes in the labour market, in a dynamic and proactive approach. New initiatives are regularly implemented to facilitate the professional integration of jobseekers, particularly those who are furthest from it, and to simplify the recruitment process.

Labour Minister Georges Mischo pointed out that when it was created, "the approach was really very innovative. Today, it is regularly cited as an example of good practice, including at European level".

Michel Reckinger, President of UEL, said: "The future of our labour market depends on our ability to be open, inclusive and innovative. But businesses cannot meet the challenge alone. As public and private players, we are working together to ensure that we continue to support them through the success of this partnership.

The importance of the public and private sectors working together to meet the challenges of the labour market

The labour market is currently going through a particular period: the number of recruitments over one year remains high (almost 170,000 recruitments between 2024 and 2025) but net job creation is tending to slow down. Employment growth is currently at an all-time low, a situation unprecedented in Luxembourg.

However, the unemployment rate has stabilised over the last three months at 5.9%, after rising steadily since the summer of 2022. "This shows that our labour market is not in decline: it does, however, have to face up to new challenges, which we must address together", said Labour Minister Georges Mischo.

In an uncertain economic climate, the partnership between UEL and ADEM takes on particular importance. At the heart of the current programme, ADEM's designation of a certain number of companies with high recruitment needs as "companies, partners for employment" is a strategic lever. This scheme creates a win-win relationship: companies undertake to automatically forward all their job vacancies to ADEM and to recruit jobseekers, while ADEM offers them personalised support to identify and attract profiles suited to their needs. For jobseekers, this initiative opens up new prospects for long-term integration, including for those furthest from the labour market.

"ADEM's business labelling programme is a perfect example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors join forces to promote employment and inclusion," said the Minister.

The new "Entreprise, partenaire pour l'emploi" label, rewarding the commitment of companies

During the ceremony, Isabelle Schlesser, Director of ADEM, presented the new "Company, Partner for Employment" label to the first ten signatory companies: Banque Raiffeisen, Cactus, Concept & Partners, Hôpitaux Robert Schuman, Hornbach Baumarkt, La Provençale, Luxair, Panelux, Sodexo Luxembourg and Stëftung Hëllef Doheem.

Around ten other companies are currently in discussion with ADEM and will be awarded the label in the coming weeks.

This label, initiated by ADEM, distinguishes companies that make a strong commitment to professional integration and demonstrates their social responsibility.

A round table to share best practice

The evening was marked by a round table discussion led by Isabelle Schlesser, Director of ADEM, and Marc Wagener, Director of UEL. Six companies that have been awarded the "Entreprise, partenaire pour l'emploi" label presented their initiatives in favour of professional integration: actions for jobseekers over 45, support for young people without qualifications, integration of people with disabilities or beneficiaries of international protection, recruitment of people undergoing retraining in the health sector, or the design of tailor-made training courses with ADEM to obtain qualifications adapted to market needs.

These inspiring testimonials demonstrate the diversity and effectiveness of the solutions put in place to facilitate sustainable professional integration and encourage other companies to make the same commitment.

A call for collective responsibility

"Every talent counts. Over and above age, qualifications and career path, motivation, skills and a willingness to contribute must also be taken into account when recruiting," commented Michel Reckinger. 

In conclusion, Georges Mischo pointed out that "the integration of jobseekers is a collective responsibility" and that "work is not just a means of subsistence, but also a form of participation in the life of society and an essential component of everyone's identity".