Towards an entrepreneurial Achterhoek : An explorative study on the use of region marketing to recruit labour force for the Achterhoek

Abstract

This study is performed in order for the capability of the Achterhoek to anticipate on future expected shortages of labour force. The Achterhoek is one of the several regions in the Netherlands and in Europe that will be affected through demographic developments, e.g. affecting the number of available labour force. The resulting decreasing number of potential labour force leads to expected shortages on a very short term. Since internal instruments as an increasing participation rate are insufficient to deal with the expected shortages alone, labour force recruitment is key. This study provides insights about the policy to be pursued with respect to the recruitment of labour force by strategically analyzing the identity of the region, providing relevant theoretical concepts behind labour force mobility and analyzing best practices and their efforts for labour force recruitment. In order for this purpose, the following question is central in this study: In which manner can region marketing be deployed to position the Achterhoek as a strong, entrepreneurial place in the field of labour force recruitment?