new competencies and
innovations in logistics

Two sources that produce occupationally classified labour market statistics, are the Public Employment Services and the National statistical office. The national statistical office for example has data available at ISCO-3 digit level. At a sectorial level, there are no initiatives to create systems for labour market monitoring.

2.1 Census
An even more detailed classification of occupations is used in the integral census. However, the latest census for which data is available was held in 1991. Amongst the wide range of information available in this census, it presents information about 22 professions in transport and logistics (table 1.4). A new census was carried out in 2001, the first results are expected in 2004. One no longer speak of the "General Population and Housing Census 2001", but of the "General Socio-Economic Survey 2001", or simply "Survey 2001". Since 1991 the population figure has been determined on the basis of demographic data from the National Register. The original term "census" had the incorrect connotation that it only concerned a "counting" of the population.

In principle this data can be crossed with several other criteria (age, gender, region, sector, etc.).

2.2 labour market survey
The Belgian Central Statistical Office (NIS/INS)(http://www.statbel.fgov.be/) produces an annual labour market survey. This survey provides statistical information based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88), which is available in Belgium at 3 digits.
The results for a number of relevant professions for 2001 are reported in table 1.1. For the justification of the selection of ISCO-numbers see annex 1. A relatively large group is the transport labourers and freight handlers, which accounts for nearly 4% of total employment. The proportion of this group has also grown over the last years. Other substantial groups are motor vehicle drivers (2.8%), production and operations department managers (1.4%), manufacturing labourers (0.9%), and material recording and transport clerks (0.8%).

The ISCO 3-digit level groups that are included in table 1.1 have been selected on the basis that these ISCO groups on a more disaggregate 4-digit level have at least one group of relevant occupations. Of these selected groups, 5 groups on a 3-digit level (342, 413, 832, 932 and 933) contain a majority of logistical occupations (see annex 1 for an elaborate justification). The figures for these five groups combined represent a proportion of 8.5 % in relation to total employment in 2001.

This data can be crossed by a number of relevant sectors (see for example data for 2001 in table 1.2). There are marked divisions within sectors according to occupation. Manufacturing has a relatively large proportion of mobile plant operators, manufacturing labourers and transport labourers and freight handlers. The material recording and transport clerks function is strongly represented in the Wholesale/retail/repair sector. Not surprisingly driver type functions (832, 834) are well represented in the transport sector. Most occupations are spread over a number of sectors, only a few of them are heavily concentrated in one sector.

When the data crossing occupation and sector (table 1.2) is compared over a number of years (table 1.3) the figures suggest a trend towards outsourcing of transport competency. The transport related occupations (413, 832 and 833) are increasing in number in the sector transport, storage and communication and declining in the other sectors. The only exception to this trend is the occupation of Transport labourers and freight handlers (933). One explanation could be that the proportion of freight handlers is higher than that of transport labourers within this occupation. On the other hand the interpretation of labour market survey statistics is risky, the survey should be considered a random sample of reality and the figures should be seen as approximations. The bandwidth of uncertainty is large, especially when the numbers are low compared to total employment. This is evident for occupation 342, where some numbers are too small to appear in this table.

Firstly, it is important to mention that Belgium has three separate Public Employment Offices: VDAB for Flanders, FOREM for Walloon region and ORBEM for Brussels. Because FOREM and ORBEM have a similar approach, we only deal with the largest of the two, namely FOREM.

The VDAB record statistics according to professions. Both unemployment and vacancies data is also classified by profession in both cases the same system of classification is used. For unemployment statistics, two variants are possible: the job seeker can be classified either according to the main profession which they have left or to the new profession that they want enter. In the latter case, they can be classified in relation to more professions. These figures are more difficult to interpret in terms of relative proportion and are therefore not further elaborated.

In all of the VDAB's published statistics, a division is made between white collar and blue-collar workers. Within the blue-collar workers, the following relevant professions can be found:

• Packer (Inpakker)
• Machinist/Crane driver (Machinist/kraanman)
• Harbour worker, warehouse worker (Havenarbeider, magazijnier)

For these professions, the numbers of vacancies and unemployment figures are available see table 1.5 and 1.6. In theory vacancy and unemployment rate data can be crossed with other criteria (unemployed: region, gender, ethnic background, etc.; vacancies: region, sector).

In the Walloon region, FOREM's regular public statistics are only available at a quite aggregate level of job classification. The annual rapport statistique uses a classification of 19 professions. One of these professions is called distribution, without any further subdivision. However, underlying this is a far more disaggregated system of about 3700 professions. A small selection of these professions can be found back in a publication of FOREM about vacancies which are difficult to fulfill. In this report a selection is made of professions which are most difficult to fulfill. This selection includes various types of drivers, as well as the planner function (dispatcher). In table 1.7 an overview is given of function groups with a link to logistics in the job classification system of FOREM.

A number of labour market statistical sources, classify information according to occupation. The national statistical office uses an ISCO classification at 3 digits for the national labour survey. The census offers even more detailed information about labour market statistics and the spread of employment in different occupations, however this census only takes place once a decade. The Walloon public employment office uses a very elaborate job classification system, although their regular statistics are on a much higher aggregation level.

Belgian training provision reflects the very nature of the country. Belgium has a federal government and the separate language communities have their own local government. The language communities are: the French speaking community (Franstalige gemeenschap), the Flemish community (Vlaamse gemeenschap) and the German speaking community (Duitstalige gemeenschap). Brussels is usually considered part of the French speaking community and as the Capital of the region (Brussels Hoofstedelijk Gewest) has separate institutes.
Belgium can also be geographically divided into the following regions: Walloon (Wallonië) the French speaking area to the south, Flanders (Vlaanderen) the Flemish or Dutch speaking area in the North and Brussels, the French speaking capital city. The small community of German speaking Belgians resides in the region Liege in Walloon. As a consequence each region has separate institutes to address labour market issues such as vocational training and life long learning. Shipping and transport companies for instance deliver through the entire country. People, however, tend toward picking a company which has the same lingual background as they have. The consequence is that when describing the Belgian situation many institutions are relevant, because each community has its own institutions. Most of the profiles we found come from public institutions.

In Belgium there are many different social agreements. These agreements are either made by branch of industry or an individual company. In contrast to many public institutions, these agreements are made at a national level. Social agreements are binding for all employees in a branch or company and not just for members of trade unions. These agreements (Collectieve Arbeidsovereenkomst, CAO) incorporate payment scales that are divided into age and function levels. However, specific logistics job-titles are not mentioned.

The social partners have published an agreement (l'Accord Interprofessionnel) in which they create a framework for sectoral negotiations and address socio-economic issues. In an earlier agreement (1 January 2001 - 31 December 2002) there is a chapter on continuing education (formation permanente) in which companies are encouraged to create function profiles and qualifications and to make an inventory of the need for vocational training. Furthermore the Belgian federal government has announced a support measure for the training of workers and in 1999 asked the European Committee for support. The measures are aimed at creating an environment conducive to both employers and employees for the development of employee skills level through continuing education and training. These measures are also backed up by financial incentives.

Job descriptions for employment and information purposes are available from the following organisation.

Flemish Employment Service (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding-VDAB) is involved with the employment service in Flanders. They have developed the COBRA-system (Competenties en Beroepen Repertorium voor de Arbeidsmarkt). This repertoire contains 550 profiles of professions and is based on the French ROME reference system (Operational Repertoire of Professional Skills and Employment).

Each profession profile consists of:

• General description of the profession
• Working conditions
• Required education and experience
• Basic skills
• Specific competences
• Products and working domains
• Specific working conditions

In the field of logistics, there are several profiles defined, namely:

These profiles can be found on the following website: www.vdab.be/cobra

Each region of Belgium has separate organizations for vocational training and lifelong learning.

4.1 Flanders (Vlaanderen)
Flanders has three major institutes that are active in vocational training, education and labour market policy: the Flemish Education Council (Vlaamse Onderwijsraad, VLOR), Soci-economic Council Flanders (Sociaal-Economische Raad Vlaanderen, SERV) and the Flemish Employment Service (Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling en Beroepsopleiding, VDAB).

4.1.1 - Flemish Education Council (Vlaamse Onderwijsraad, VLOR)
A report (Vocational Education Profiles (beroepsopleidingsprofielen)) has been produced in an effort to ensure that vocational training remains relevant to business' needs and as such aims to close the gap between supply and demand in the labour market.
The following relevant profiles were published in 1999:

• Warehouse worker (magazijnier)
• Warehouse manager (magazijnchef)
• Logistics Manager (Logistiek Manager)

Documents are available on the cd-rom "The profile guide" (De profielengids); more information is available via vlaamse.onderwijsraad@vlor.be. This cd-rom includes profiles updated up until December 2001. Two of these profiles are included in annex2 and annex3.

4.1.2 - Socio-economic council Flanders (Sociaal-Economische Raad Vlaanderen, SERV)
SERV has carried out the following relevant research: "Enquiry into the qualification requirements for goods handling in road transport" (onderzoek naar de kwalificatiebehoeften voor goederenbehandeling in de sector van het goederenvervoer).
In this report 3 relevant jobs are fully defined:

• Warehouse manager
• Warehouse supervisor
• Warehouse worker

SERV carried out this work in cooperation with the Social Fund for Transport (Sociaal fonds voor goederenvervoer). The aim of this enquiry was to enable educational institutes to adapt their programs to the requirements of businesses. The enquiry focused on defined tasks and couples these tasks to required skills, knowledge and attitudes. This enquiry was published in 1999, more information can be found on www.serv.be. On this Website job profiles are published. The job profiles of the pre-mentioned jobs are published there as well. These profiles are the result of the 1998 / 1999 research. The profiles have not been updated since.

4.2 Wallonia (la Région WALLONNE)
In the Walloon region, the following institutes are active in vocational training, education and labour market policy: Walloon Employment Service (FORmation et EMploi, Forem), Socio-economic Council Walloon (Le Conseil Economique et Social de la Région Wallonne, CESRW) and the organisation for the education of adults (Carrefour Formation).

4.2.1 - Walloon Employment Service (Forem)
The Walloon Employment Service (Forem) has a very elaborate website http://www.leforem.be/ which offers information on employment and training for companies and individuals. The website is also a means to bring employers and work seekers together. Forem has set up competence centres (centres de compétence) to facilitate company training of specialized personnel and to educate individuals. Two centres for Logistics have been set up in the Walloon region; one is in Liège (FOREM Logistique-Liège) and another one in Charleroi (Hainaut Logistique). Both these centres offer specialist tools for training in the fields of transport and logistics and related subjects. FOREM is a source of profiles of jobs in logistics having drawn up job definitions for Liège Airport and the company Liège Logistics. For further details of job definitions available from FOREM for these two companies please refer to section 5 "Job Descriptions within Companies".

4.2.2 - Community commission for professions and qualifications (Commission Communautaire des Professions et des Qualifications, CCPQ)
TThe CCPQ was created as a result of the need in the French-speaking community for a stronger accordance between education and labour market. The primary task of the CCPQ is to define education profiles (les profils de formation), which are a collection of required skills and knowledge. These profiles are necessary to close the gap between the requirements in the labour market and the skills of the employees, which are the product of technical and vocational education. In order to establish the requirements of the labor market nine branches have been determined: agriculture, industry, construction, hotel and catering industry, clothing, industrial design, economics, personal services and applied sciences. For each branch a committee has been set up.

These committees are responsible for determining the qualification needs for their designated sector and they do so according to the following steps:

• Qualification profiles (les profils de qualification): these are elaborate descriptions of the typical activities and skills of employees in representative companies.
• Education profiles (les profils de formation): description of the collection of skills required to attain a certain level of skill and to obtain a diploma.
• Structure and references of training (les structures et les référentiels de formation): description of the different training goals and the specification of the training curriculum. Furthermore it describes the apprenticeship strategies and details of the organization that certifies and assesses skills attained through higher education or other forms of training.

One profiles relevant to logistics have been noted from the afore mentioned Qualification Profiles (les profils de qualification): Warehouse worker / forklift driver (manutentionaire / cariste).

The Education Profiles have to be validated by Parliament. The Education profile of warehouse worker has been developed and was validated on December 15th 2002.
It is a qualifications profile, divided in 3 groups: functions, activities and competences. There are four functions and the activities have been divided according to the function they relate to. In the same way the competences have been divided towards the activities. The four functions are: (1) the administrative function, (2) handling the stock, (3) contributing to the general security and hygiene of the company and (4) integrating in professional life.

The complete profile can be accessed through this link:
http://www.enseignement.be/@librairie/documents/profils/qualification/Secteur2/PQ%20Manutentionnaire%20cariste.pdf

4.3 Brussels (Bruxelles, région Bruxelloise, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest)
The capital of Belgium has two separate institutes for education and labour market services: Brussels Education (Bruxelles Formation) and the Brussels Regional Bureau for Employment (Office Régional Bruxellois de l'emploi, ORBEM / Brusselse Gewestelijke Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling, BGDA). They collaborated with VDAB the COBRA reference of 550 job descriptions (see section 3).

In collaboration with FOREM, Liege Airport has produced a publication called TAKE OFF which includes standard descriptions of job for 48 professions. The job descriptions are categorized into four main categories:

1. Transport and logistics in air transport (Transport et Logistique fret Aérien)
2. Truck driver and multimodal logistics (Transport routier et Logistique multimodale)
3. Transportation of passengers by plane (Transport aérien de passenger)
4. Jobs related to transport (Métiers transversaux)

Logistics job descriptions are the following:

• Warehouse worker (Magasinier)
• Forklift driver (Cariste)
• Person responsible for logistics (Responsible Logistique)
• Supervisor (Superviseur)
• Operational planner (Employé planning, douanes et expeditions)

For every job definition the following categories are included:

• General information
• Main activities
• Work conditions
• Educational background
• Personal skills
• Competences

In Belgium many organizations are involved in the process of matching the needs of the labour market to the provision of education and training. The large number of actors in this process is partly due to the strong decentralization of the different language communities.

Some of these public institutions have developed profiles for jobs in logistics. The most elaborate ones for Flanders can be found in a specific enquiry by SERV on job descriptions for warehouse jobs. In the Walloon region more and more profiles are being developed in the framework of CCPQ. In 2002, the first profile in logistics was developed, namely for the function warehouse worker / forklift driver.