On 28 May 2025, Tallinn hosted Estonia’s second Reflection Seminar as part of the Synclusive project. The session brought together key labour market stakeholders to explore how the Living Lab approach—already being tested in other partner countries—could be adapted to the Estonian context.
The seminar focused on coalition building as a crucial element in supporting vulnerable groups in the labour market. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Estonian Trade Union Confederation, the PRAXIS think tank, and the Estonian Qualifications Authority. Vince Pelzer from Tilburg University joined remotely to present insights from the Dutch Living Lab experience in the childcare sector.
Discussions highlighted that success of the Living Lab model in Estonia depends on adapting it to local conditions. Key takeaways included:
- Focusing on low-barrier sectors with clear opportunities for career progression, such as care services, education support roles, retail, and basic manufacturing.
- Proactively addressing language barriers and cultural diversity, especially for non-Estonian speakers and migrant communities.
- Bridging the gap between initial labour market entry and long-term career development.
- Enhancing employer engagement, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- Establishing coordinated, long-term structures that go beyond short-term pilots and fragmented support systems.
The seminar underscored the potential of applying the Synclusive approach in Estonia and participants acknowledged the value of coalition-based solutions in addressing current system gaps. The discussions stressed the need for context-specific solutions, while also raising critical questions about leadership, resourcing, and long-term sustainability.
