werkvelden

Werkvelden is a term used in the Dutch language to refer to the broad domains or areas of work within the labor market, education, and policy contexts. It denotes the fields in which jobs are organized around similar tasks, competencies, and responsibilities, rather than around individual occupations. The concept helps to describe and analyze the structure of work by focusing on the activities and knowledge areas that employers expect from workers.

In practice, werkvelden are used in labor market and education policy, human resources, and career guidance. They serve to categorize job descriptions, develop curricula, and design career paths. By mapping tasks to competencies within a werkveld, organizations can identify gaps, plan training, and facilitate cross-sector mobility. In education, curricula are often organized by werkvelden to ensure that graduates acquire relevant, transferable skills.

Werkvelden are typically arranged along sectors or themes, sometimes combining functions and disciplines. They can also include cross-cutting themes such as digitalization, sustainability, and internationalization. The boundaries between werkvelden are fluid, with many roles spanning multiple fields.

Common examples of werkvelden include healthcare and welfare (zorg en welzijn), education and training (onderwijs en vorming), construction and technology (bouw en techniek), information and communication technology (ICT en media), commerce and services (handel en dienstverlening), logistics and transport (logistiek en vervoer), and finance and business services (financiële dienstverlening en bedrijfsdiensten).