Werkveld

Werkveld is a Dutch term meaning field of work or occupational field. It refers to the set of professions, tasks, and competencies associated with a particular area of economic activity or job function. The concept is used in education, career guidance, and labor market analysis to describe which jobs belong to a sector and what capabilities are expected to perform them.

In education and vocational training, the werkveld helps students and trainees orient themselves toward relevant occupations and to understand the typical tasks, tools, and standards involved. It is often linked to competency frameworks and sectoral guidelines that define required skills, qualifications, and professional conduct. In labor market research, mapping werkvelden supports analysis of demand, supply, and transitions between related occupations.

Examples of werkvelden include the healthcare werkveld (nurses, doctors, care workers, managers), the technology or IT werkveld (software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity specialists), and the construction werkveld (carpenters, project managers, surveyors). The concept is dynamic: automation, regulation, and economic shifts can expand or shrink a werkveld or redefine its boundaries.

Relation to related terms: werkveld is similar to domain or sector, but it emphasizes the practical cluster of jobs and competencies rather than administrative classifications. It is often used to structure curricula, career counseling, and policy analyses.

See also: labor market, vocational education, competency framework, sector.