Demography and social economy, 2015, 3(25):173-184
doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/dse2015.03.012

L.M. Ilich
PhD in Economics, Assosiate Professor, Senior Research Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 01032, Kyiv, blvd. Taras Shevchenko, 60
E-mail: ilyich_l@meta.ua

Matching Skills for Labour Market Needs: Problems and Solutions
Section: LABOUR MARKET AND EMPLOYMENT
Language: Ukrainian
Abstract: Qualification as an aggregate of professional knowledge, ability and experience is the most important intangible asset of human resources and society. In the modern global world it is increasingly difficult to achieve a balance between skills demand and supply that explains the growing problems of their mismatching. The article is devoted to theoretical and applied aspects of skills mismatch of labor market needs. In the paper the essence of the main categories, describing the skills mismatching and their typology are precised. The interrelations between mismatching of education and skills at the enterprise level and its impact on productivity are explored. The correlation of socio-economic development and harmonization of skills matching are established. Investigation of skills mismatching in the age group 15–29 years in Ukraine and some countries shows that over-educated population is typical for all countries, but Ukraine, Bulgaria and Poland have the highest level of skills mismatch by education between supply and demand. By the indicator of qualifications mismatch between job requirements and qualifications of excessive training Ukraine and Armenia have the highest positions, which means that they have significant potential over-educated workforce, which may not accept employment due to lack of suitable jobs. The author proposes to obtain matching skills by consolidating efforts of all stakeholders in areas: improving labor statistics grouping by occupation and skills; occupation harmonization and directions of training; approval of professional standards; creation of a common information base and methodological support for labour market forecasting.
Key words: labor market, skills, supply, demand on the labor market, imbalance, skills mismatching, over-education, over-qualification, skills shortages.
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