Starting over after a setback: the key role of job placement

The Spanish labor market is experiencing a period of sustained expansion: employment has reached record highs and the unemployment rate has hit its lowest level in 18 years, according to the latest data from the Active Population Survey (EPA). However, this growth is not solely attributable to market dynamics. Policies that have activated previously untapped talent also play a role. In this context, job placement emerges as a key element. For years, initiatives like Incorpora have demonstrated that personalized support and intermediation with companies can transform career paths after a significant life change.

In Catalonia, in the last year alone, the Incorpora program has facilitated over 12,000 job placements for people in vulnerable situations, thanks to the collaboration of more than 4,000 companies and an extensive network of social organizations throughout the region. Most of these placements have been in sectors such as services, commerce, logistics, and social and healthcare—areas with high labor demand where support and job placement services are crucial for ensuring stable integration into the labor market.

However, the program's objective goes beyond simply securing a first job. "Behind every integration pathway lies a story of overcoming adversity," explains Marc Simón, Deputy Director General of the La Caixa Foundation. "The program supports participants through a comprehensive process that extends beyond simply finding employment, as it also strengthens their stability and self-esteem," he adds.

"It has changed my life"

Beyond the statistics, job placement translates into lives that are given a fresh start. Arnau Vila is 19 years old and lives in Almacelles (Segrià). After finishing secondary school without a clear direction, he began a career guidance program through the Incorpora program, with support from the Prosec Association. "I was lost, I didn't know whether to study or work," he recalls in an interview with ARA. The program included training in logistics and restocking, and his first contact with the working world through internships. "It was my first work experience, and that gave me a lot of confidence," he explains. After working in various establishments, Arnau has finally been hired for a job directly related to his training. "It has changed my life: before, I was afraid to talk to people, and now I feel capable of doing things I never imagined," he concludes.

Another case, with a very different life and career path, is that of Joaquín Marmany, 54, a resident of Tarragona. After a lifetime working as an industrial and maintenance worker, cancer forced him to completely rethink his career path. "When they tell you that you can't go back to doing the work you've always done, you wonder what you should do and where you should go," he explains in this newspaper.

After a long and complex medical process, Joaquín joined the Incorpora program through the ECOM Foundation, which supported him in his career transition. The key, he says, was finding a job compatible with his new physical limitations. "I couldn't lift heavy objects or take certain risks, but I wanted to keep working and feel useful," he explains.

Finally, he signed a permanent contract as a caretaker and access control officer at Integra CET. Returning to work has had an impact that goes beyond the financial. "Work has also helped me a lot personally, because it gives you back a routine, a sense of purpose, and makes you feel that you still have a lot to contribute," he says. For him, finding employment has been key to rebuilding his life after the upheaval.

The cases of Arnau and Joaquín illustrate a reality that often goes unreported in the overall labor market statistics. In a context of high employment, job placement highlights how companies' needs connect with individuals who, due to age, health, or life circumstances, would find it difficult to access employment without support. The pathways promoted by programs like Incorpora function as a labor market adjustment mechanism, capable of expanding the employment base and making visible forms of exclusion that aggregate data do not always reflect.