The Public Employment Service of Catalonia (SOC), part of the Department of Economy and Labour, and Barcelona Activa, the economic promotion agency of Barcelona City Council, have signed an agreement to renew their collaboration in the development of active employment policies. With an allocation of €22.56 million, 70% will come from the SOC budget, while the remaining 30% will be provided by the Barcelona City Council.

In the 2023 edition, 47.3% of those registered with the SOC (13,600 people) who participated in services or programmes organised by Barcelona Activa successfully entered the labour market, with 41.9% of the resulting contracts being permanent. Among young people, a particularly vulnerable group, 56.3% found employment.

There are plans to develop vocational services and programmes in 2025 in the following areas:

• Careers advice: Personalised information, support, motivation and guidance services and programmes.
• Professional qualifications: Vocational training for employment and the accreditation of professional skills.
• Employment support: A dedicated vocational service to support the integration of people at risk of labour market or social exclusion.
• In-company support: A service that promotes the upskilling of employees and professionals within companies.
• Promoting job creation, local economic development and recruitment: Initiatives and projects that stimulate, promote and diversify economic activity, create jobs, income and wealth, and improve the quality of life and well-being of local communities.