"A region with a strong economy and nature in touch". This is the title of the Saarland Chamber of Labour's latest edition of the Saarpfalz district report, which was recently presented to the public. Speakers from the Chamber of Labour conducted preliminary discussions with employees from selected departments of the district administration in order to compile figures, data and facts as a basis for their contributions. The result is an up-to-date inventory of essential topics such as economic development, finance, labour market policy, health, mobility and early childhood education, which provides a serious overview of the work and structures in the district administration.
The Chief Executive of the Chamber of Labour, Thomas Otto, and District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo invited guests to the premises of the Saarpfalz Economic Development Corporation (WFG) in Bexbach for the presentation of the district report. "The location was perfect for this project. And I would like to expressly thank Doris Gaa, Managing Director of WFG Saarpfalz, and her team for taking on the organisation of the evening," emphasised District Administrator Dr Gallo in his welcoming address.
Thomas Otto felt it was important to emphasise that the Chamber of Labour was not aiming for comparisons between districts. Rather, the aim was to emphasise local commitment and support a discussion that works precisely against the dissolution of regional administrative structures.
The Saarpfalz district is recognised in the district report as having a high start-up intensity and a diverse economic structure. However, anyone who takes a look at the twelve-page Chamber of Labour special will also learn about the district in the biosphere reserve through pure figures. There are population figures, data on gross domestic product or employees subject to social insurance contributions, unemployment figures and much more. The strategic priorities of the job centre, whose aim is to integrate benefit recipients into work and training as permanently as possible, are also examined in more detail. When looking at labour market policy, the employment situation of women plays a role, which is not so favourable in the Saarpfalz district due to the predominantly industrial economic structure. Nothing is glossed over: the article on the available and utilised financial resources also speaks a clear language.
The focus is also on outpatient care for people in need of care, efforts to provide a balanced, sustainable transport service and the different needs of the municipalities in terms of early childhood education: the topic of daycare centre expansion.
District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo was positive about the state of development of the Saarpfalz district and referred to the Prognos study: "In studies on current and future transformation processes among a total of 400 districts and independent cities for the year 2022, we rank 133rd, and in some areas even further ahead. We are well positioned, but of course there is always room for improvement, because none of us are perfect," summarised the District Administrator.
The subsequent discussion on individual points with the guests present took more time than the presentation itself, which is certainly to be recognised.
The district report is available for download at https://www.arbeitskammer.de/publikationen/ak-kreisreports-2024.