Assessing Imbalance between Labor Quality and Needs of the Labor Market of Ukraine: Educational Challenges

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to assess the imbalance between the quality of labor and the needs of the national labor market and harmonize the supply of the national education system to meet the demands of social production. The analysis of actual (statistical) data is carried out; the method of expert survey is used to identify imbalances between labor and education markets. The needs of the national labor market for experts with digital and creative skills are substantiated. The authors focused on the problem of imbalance in the market of educational services and demand for labor with appropriate skills in the labor market of Ukraine. According to the results of the analysis, it has been found that the domestic labor market is characterized, on the one hand, by excessive qualification of the labor force, which is manifested in the excess of the educational level of employees over the demand for such specialists. This is reflected in the lack of decent jobs in the national labor market. On the other hand, the national labor market is characterized by a shortage of employees with digital skills. Expert assessments of specialists in labor, education and digital economy have revealed a lack of focus of all education levels on the formation of digital and creative skills in the actual and potential labour force. Approaches to the study of imbalances in national labor markets and educational services have been further developed. The main trends in labor skills formation and demand for them among employers in the national labor market in the context of digitalization have been identified. Compared with previous studies, the research contains the results of an expert survey. The obtained results serve as a research basis for the development of strategic decisions in the field of markets balancing and education in the context of digitalization of the economy.