Harm van Lieshout

Harm van Lieshout serves as Human Capital Professor at the Marian van Os Centre of Expertise Entrepreneurship within Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen. His research focuses on labor market dynamics in North Netherlands, particularly addressing skills shortages in IT and green energy sectors through regional collaboration frameworks.

His research interests span Labor Market Research, Regional Skills Development, and IT Workforce Planning, with emphasis on practical solutions for employer challenges. Recent work analyzes the tight Dutch IT labor market (2024), regional skills passport systems (2022), and green energy transition workforce planning. He employs mixed-method approaches combining quantitative labor data with stakeholder engagement across 113 documented activities including workshops and conferences.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on regional labor market interventions (73%), with growing emphasis on green energy transition (27% since 2022) and digital transformation (33% since 2020). His work bridges academic research and practical implementation through 11 projects including CLIC-IT (2022-2026) and Regionale Liaisons GroenvermogenNL.

Through 76 research outputs since 2008, he has established expertise in translating labor market data into actionable strategies. His projects demonstrate substantial external funding and collaboration with regional stakeholders including Topsector Energie and FNV unions.

His advising focuses on practical workforce development, directing projects like KONNECT (2022-2023) that developed learning cultures across 6 regional organizations. Current grant activities include the 2025 Regionale Liaisons GroenvermogenNL project examining labor implications of energy transition.

He operates within the Marian van Os Centre's ecosystem connecting academic research with regional employers, notably through the CLIC-IT consortium accelerating digital transformation via game-based learning modules. His work integrates with Groningen's Energy Port initiative examining technical workforce requirements for energy infrastructure projects.