ICT and Job Vacancy, Training and Transport Information Services for Job Seekers in Rural Areas Stella Focus Group Meeting, Budapest April 2004 Ronald W. McQuaid Employment Research Institute and Transport Research Institute, Napier University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Structure of the presentation Introduction: Rural areas, the accessibility of services and the roles of transport and ICT The study areas and research methods ICT and job seeking EMIRES – linking transport, training and job information Conclusions and implications for research and policy

“It may work in practice, but it will never work in theory” The Anonymous Economist

A range of multi-disciplinary approaches and theories are required to fully analyse the issues. Some relevant areas include: Employability e.g. COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (1999) The European employment strategy: Investing in people; investing in more and better jobs. Luxembourg: OOPEC. Travel to work e.g. Ong, P., and E. Blumenberg (1998) Job access, commute and travel burden among welfare recipients. Urban Studies 35: Intelligent transport systems Public service and interaction between provider and client e.g. Servaes, J. and Heinderyckx, F. (2002) ‘The ‘new’ ICTs environment in Europe: closing or widening the gaps?’, Telematics and Informatics, 19: ; McQuaid, R.W., Lindsay, C. and M. Greig (2004) “Re-Connecting’ The Unemployed: ICT and Services for Job Seekers in Rural Areas,” Information, Communication & Society, Vol. 7, No. 3

Rurality, service accessibility and the role of ICT Rural areas and problems of distance: remoteness and the accessibility of services Informal social networking and the dynamics of rural labour markets ICT: facilitating solutions to social exclusion ICT: a key role in delivering services for unemployed job seekers in rural areas New ways to co-ordinate transport provision

The study areas Wick TTWA - remote rural town, NE Highlands Sutherland TTWA - large, sparsely populated remote rural area, scattered settlements; a key role for ICT in delivering services for unemployed job seekers West Lothian – peri-urban, centrally located

Potential for Demand Responsive Transport Services to co-ordinate social work, non-emergency ambulance, school bus, public transport, post bus, other public service vehicles. Role of ITS?

Methodology National statistics Survey research (c 500 interviews) Focus group research (12 groups, 72 participants) Employer interviews (c 50 employers) Key actor interviews

Respondents’ perceived ‘single greatest barrier to work’ (% of total) Single most important barrier namedWickSutherlandTotal Lack of appropriate job opportunities Lack of access to transport or driving licence Lack of skills, qualifications or experience Age or age discrimination Remoteness of location Health problems Lack of resources (to travel, start business, etc.) Inadequate services and training for job seekers Other Don’t know Total (rounded)100

BetaSig.BetaSig. Level of qualifications * *** Perception ICT skills *** *** Income group *** Resident West Lothian *** Resident Sutherland *** ** Unemployment duration * ** Age *** ** Male ** Children under Constant *** *** Respondent characteristicHome Internet accessWeekly Internet job search

Survey findings Internet-based job seeking marginal impact Access to ICT: there is a digital divide –Young people, low skilled, people on low incomes –Long-term unemployed, unqualified Remoteness associated with Internet access (Sutherland), but so is ‘connectedness’ (West Lothian) Use of ICT for job seeking defined by digital divide Location matters - remote rural job seekers more likely to use ICT to look for work see: McQuaid, R.W., Lindsay, C. and M. Greig (2004) “Re-Connecting’ The Unemployed: ICT and Services for Job Seekers in Rural Areas,” Information, Communication & Society, Vol. 7, No. 3. Lindsay, C., McCracken M. and R. W. McQuaid (2003) “Unemployment Duration and Employability In Remote Rural Labour Markets, ” Journal of Rural Studies, Vol. 19, No. 2 pp

Focus groups: is there a role for ICT? Perception that Internet database over- complicated the job search process: –for those seeking to browse across a range of jobs –for those in isolated rural areas with few vacancies Internet-based services seen as providing accessible and accurate job information Telephone helplines used regularly, but concern over the lack of a ‘local dimension’

Focus groups: Limits on the role of ICT The impact of social networking –crucial in rural areas, marginal in peri-urban areas –formal services often by-passed in rural areas The impact of labour demand –lack of opportunities limiting impact of interventions –lack of labour demand - scepticism regarding the value of any public service interventions Need for ICT resources and facilities that have a local dimension and tap local knowledge

EMIRES Scotland Regional Service Centre East Sutherland EMIRES Scotland Regional Service Centre East Sutherland Highland Council University of Newcastle Employment Research Institute and Transport Research Institute, Napier University, Edinburgh Part funded by the European Commission, 5 th Framework Highland Council University of Newcastle Employment Research Institute and Transport Research Institute, Napier University, Edinburgh Part funded by the European Commission, 5 th Framework

Job Vacancies: Government Jobcentre Plus website (extensive web database of jobs) Training Opportunities: Worktrain website (web database of training opportunities for the area) Public Transport (but DRT): Traveline equivalent (identifies all public transport between source and destination, e.g. a job seekers residence and a potential job)

Value Added of EMIRES Integration of different information sources Improved access to data and information -Should ICT policies reflect existing behaviour or try to change behaviour to a more ‘efficient’ or effective way? May be able to add other potential value added services (e.g. booking travel and a restaurant) Use by government services – but implications?

Conclusions Job seekers can adapt to ICT-based services An emerging but limited role in rural areas A digital divide affecting the most disadvantaged The design of software must reflect the realities of local labour markets in rural areas Acknowledging the role of informal networking Lack of labour demand in rural areas Transport is important and should be linked to other policies

Implications for research and policy Web-based resources –the local dimension and facilitating information sharing and networking Community ICT Centres –a focal point for skills development, job seeking and networking Ensuring the most disadvantaged aren’t left behind Changing balances of public services Future research: –ICT, transport and accessibility agendas

for pdf version of: McQuaid, R.W., Lindsay, C. and M. Greig (2003) “Wired for work? ICT and job seeking in rural areas,” A Report For The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, York Publishing, York.