Promotion of women’s labour integration in rural areas. Evaluation of Employment Workshops’ impact in the Sierra de Segura (Jaén, Spain)

Abstract

This article examines whether Employment Promotion Programs, and more specifically Employment Workshops, are adapted to the reality of labor markets in the territories where they are implemented and evaluates their impact on the employment of rural women. This study studies the trajectory that these programs have followed in the Sierra de Segura (Jaén) by the combination of the analysis of statistical and documentary sources, and the application of qualitative techniques. The main conclusions are twofold. On the one hand, that there is a clear mismatch between resources invested in this Employement Workshops and results achieved. In addition, that these programmes promote "subsidy culture" and institutional dependency, instead of entrepreneurial skills. On the other hand, that the Employment Workshops that have obtained better results in this area, are those linked to the main axes of development of the territory, adjusted to the characteristics of local labor markets, and designed with a medium-term vision to encourage the creation of companies in emerging fields.