We aim to develop new knowledge about how small and medium sized enterprises (SME) can contribute successfully to the sustained workplace inclusion of vulnerable ‘hard-to-place’ citizens, and can be supported effectively in doing so.
With ‘hard-to-place’ citizens we refer to people struggling to obtain or retain a job due to mental, cognitive, social, physical or other disabilities.
The project is situated in the context of active labour market policies seeking to engage employers and workplaces to take more responsibility for assisting hard-to-place citizens into the labour market.
Aims
The project aims to produce new and relevant knowledge for SMEs, service and education providers and policy makers on the following:
- Successful inclusion practices at the level of the employing SMEs.
- Public/private services that meet the needs of the employing organizations and the job seekers.
- The role of national policies in promoting inclusion efforts in SMEs.
More about the project
Despite an emerging literature on the role of employers in active labour market policies, knowledge about the more micro level organizational, human resource management (HRM) and workplace factors contributing to the sustained employment of hard-to-place citizens is meagre.
This is especially the case in the context of SMEs, which are highly common organizations and provide considerable proportions of employment. At the same time, SMEs may often lack resources and competences to engage in inclusion efforts.
This project starts from the key assumption that there is considerable social and economic potential in obtaining knowledge about how SMEs can become an increasingly powerful force for labour market inclusion.
Methods
We will do so through a multi-method comparative study in Norway and the Netherlands, whose governments in agreement with social partners have initiated substantial, but differing, initiatives to mobilize employers.
Project group
The participants in the project are from the Work Research Institute at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and TIAS School for Business and Society, the Netherlands. Together with experts from Norway, the Netherlands, UK, and Denmark in the advisory board the project group has expertise on employer behavior, HRM and organizational behavior, statistical modelling, public and private employment assistance services, and comparative labour market policy methods.
Project participants
Advisory board
- Paul Boselie, professor, Utrecht University School of Governance, NL
- Jo Ingold, associate professor, Leeds University Business School, UK
- Flemming Larsen, professor, Aalborg University and Oslo Metropolitan University (prof II), DK
- Tone Alm Andreassen, professor, Oslo Metropolitan University, NO
Scientific publications
- Ulstein J. The Impact of Employer Characteristics on Sustaining Employment for Workers with Reduced Capacity: Evidence from Norwegian Register Data. Social Policy and Society.
- Aksnes, S. Y., & Ulstein, J. (2024). Sustainable employment for people with disabilities: A scoping review on workplace practices and positive employment outcomes. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 26(1), 189-210.
- Aksnes, S. Y., & Breit, E. (2024). Arbeidsinkludering fra et arbeidsgiverperspektiv–en kvalitativ studie av samarbeidsrelasjoner mellom støtteapparat og arbeidsgivere. Søkelys på arbeidslivet, 41(3), 1-17.
- van Berkel, R. (2024). Predictors of the inclusion of people with disabilities in small and medium-sized enterprises. WORK: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation
- van Berkel, R., & Breit, E. (2024). Organizational Practices for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities. A Scoping Review. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 1-10.
- Ulstein, J. (2024). Structural topic modeling as a mixed methods research design: a study on employer size and labor market outcomes for vulnerable groups. Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology 58 (4331-4351)
- Aksnes, S. Y., & Breit, E. (2025). Varieties of engagement: exploring the micro-practices of managers in employing disadvantaged jobseekers. Journal of Social Policy, 1-21.
- van Berkel, R., & Breit, E. (2025). Organizational practices and their outcomes for employees with disabilities. A review and synthesis of quantitative studies. Journal of occupational rehabilitation
- Breit, E., Bråthen, M., & Sadeghi, T. (2025). Distinctions between inclusive and non-inclusive companies for persons with disability: Exploring the impact of COM-B and HRM practices. WORK: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation.
