Labor Market Skills Research Articles

Strengthening Employer Engagement in CTEVT Technical Schools: Some Practices and Initiatives

Developing engagements with private sector at all levels of the training programs facilitates the development of workable solutions for school-to-work transitions. Employer engagement in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system covers a spectrum of cooperation and involves small participation to build the trust required to develop more robust long-term engagement strategies. Engagement of employer is an essential component of overall training programs. It leads to developing responsive labour market skill needs, supporting priority economic sectors, training design and development, training delivery and post training support to develop ongoing dialogue with employer and employer associations. The employer has a crucial role to play in the overall training phases of the training programs. TVET programs as suppliers and the employers as customers are so interrelated that the development of both must go forward hand in hand having practical partnership. The need to increase and strengthen the engagement of employers in TVET programs has been felt for many years in the country. However, employer engagement in the TVET programs of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) is under-explored in Nepal. This article addresses the existing situation, explores issues, and shares some innovative initiations to strengthen the employer engagement in CTEVT technical schools.

Labour Market Skills, Endogenous Productivity and Business Cycles

Labour Market Skills, Endogenous Productivity and Business Cycles

Labor Market Liberalization and Skill Acquisition: Evidence from State-Owned Enterprises Reform in China

Labor Market Liberalization and Skill Acquisition: Evidence from State-Owned Enterprises Reform in China

Determinante direktnih stranih investicija u Centralnoj i Istočnoj Evropi - rezultati panel analize

The diffusion of technology and the knowledge spillover that accompanies foreign direct investment have made all countries, especially those in transition, interested in this type of capital inflow. Accordingly, in this paper, we have applied econometric panel models to identify determinants of foreign direct investment in Central and Eastern European countries. Our results indicate that differences in foreign direct investment flow in the analysed countries can, to a large extent, be explained by traditional factors such as the availability of skilled labour force, labour costs, infrastructure quality, and market size. In addition, the quality of institutions, primarily democratic government, an independent judiciary, and the absence of corruption, also significantly influence foreign companies' decisions about where to invest in countries in the region.

Review of Ethiopia Education Sector Development Programme VI in Perspectives of Filling the Labour Market Skill Gap

Skill gap in Labour market at both domestic and international level is the current agenda of higher education systems of Ethiopia to across the globe opportunities as a domestic unemployment challenges because of divide gap between what is delivered and what is expected. It is concern because the direct result of this mismatch is increasing unemployment and widening social divide. Therefore government focus at Education Sector Development Programmes and policies to generate transformational plans to change the substructure. Education is the root of transformation of all sectors of economy. So review of education sector development programmes VI in perspectives of filling the labour market skill gap is evitable in nature. Keywords: Higher Education, Labour Market, Policy and Strategy, Skill Gap . DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/67-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2022

Employability of job applicants in skilful jobs: commonality in employer and employee perspectives

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore the employer and employee perspectives about the employability skills of skilful jobs. The research is conducted in a developing country (Palestine) which has a high percentage of university graduates, high unemployment rate and intense job competition. This paper defines skilful jobs as those that require employees who have attended a college or university and have completed a two-year diploma or a four-year degree.Design/methodology/approachThis research integrates the components of discussion with local experts in the skilled labour market, primary data from employers (N = 415) and primary data from employees (N = 880). Binary logistic regression is used to measure the relationship between the dependent variable (likelihood of hire or not hire) and independent variables (job applicants' hard and soft skills).FindingsThe results from both employer and employee data revealed that the previous work experience, computer skills, professional certifications and high grade point average have significant impact on hiring and recruitment in the skilful jobs. In addition to these, the employers seek applicants who have communication skills. However, the employees consider personal relationship with employers to be a highly significant factor in accepting job offers.Practical implicationsTo increase their likelihood of obtaining a skilful job, and then sustaining it, the job seekers should hone their soft skills and acquire professional certifications. The universities should adapt their curriculum to match these skills and move their focus from disciplinary knowledge to competencies. The public policy makers should design awareness and capacity building programmes that will facilitate the recent graduates' integration into the labour market. The empirical model in this study shows that previous work experience is the most important recruitment factor for employers – accordingly, creating internships and apprenticeship opportunities would be its clear policy implication.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the literature by providing a parsimonious employability model of skilful jobs, which fits as much as possible the perspectives of the employers and employees about the employability skills in a developing country.

Initiations of Employer Engagement in Training Delivery of TVET Programmes

Engagement of employers in the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system is needed not only to increase the training capacity but to ensure the TVET is demand-driven, quality oriented, future focused and provides the economy with the skilled workers it needs. Employer engagement in TVET system covers a spectrum of cooperation and involves small participation to build the trust required to develop more robust long-term engagement strategies. Developing engagements with employer and employer’s associations at all levels of the training programmes life cycle facilitate the development of workable solutions for training-to-work transitions. The employer has a crucial role to play in the delivery of training programmes. Engagement of employer is an essential component of overall training programmes and leads to developing responsive labour market skill needs, supporting priority economic sectors, training design and development, training delivery and post training support to develop ongoing dialogue with employer and employer associations. The need to increase the engagement of employers in TVET programmes has been known for many years in the country, however, employer engagement in training delivery of TVET programme is under-explored in Nepal. This article addresses the existing situation, explores issues, and share some practicable initiations of employer engagement in the TVET programme.

Continuing the Journey of Education, Training and Research

Continuing the Journey of Education, Training and Research

Next to Nothing: The Impact of the Norwegian Introduction Programme on Female Immigrants’ Labour Market Inclusion

AbstractIn 2003, Norway implemented an ‘Introduction Programme’ that aimed to increase labour market inclusion among newly arrived immigrants. Its main objectives were to facilitate free courses in Norwegian language training and social studies, and education or on-the-job training. The participants were given an allowance to attend the programme. This paper uses administrative register data to evaluate the effect of the Norwegian introduction programme on female immigrants’ employment and earnings prospects. The sample consists of female immigrants from Asia or Africa who immigrated to Norway 18 months before or after the implementation of the introduction programme. The study measures their probability of being employed and their mean earnings 4–6 and 7–9 years after immigration. The results show that the Norwegian introduction programme had a small but significant effect on women’s employment, but not on their earnings. This article suggests that the small effect of the programme on employment and non-effect on earnings may imply a displacement effect rather than an improvement in language skills and labour market skills.

Skilled immigrant women's career trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

PurposeDespite immigrant-receiving countries' need for skilled professionals to meet labour demands, research suggests that many skilled migrants undergo deskilling, downward career mobility, underemployment, unemployment and talent waste, finding themselves in low-skilled occupations that are not commensurate to their education and experience. Skilled immigrant women face additional gendered disadvantages, including a disproportionate domestic burden, interrupted careers and gender segmentation in occupations and organizations. This study explores how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacted skilled newcomer women's labour market outcomes and work experiences.Design/methodology/approachThe authors draw on 50 in-depth questionnaires with skilled women to elaborate on their work experiences during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThe pandemic pushed skilled immigrant women towards unemployment, lower-skilled or less stable employment. Most study participants had their career trajectory delayed, interrupted or reversed due to layoffs, decreased job opportunities and increased domestic burden. The pandemic's gendered nature and the reliance on work-from-home arrangements and online job search heightened immigrant women's challenges due to limited social support and increased family responsibilities.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the conversation of increased integration challenges under pandemic conditions by contextualizing the pre-pandemic literature on immigrant work integration to the pandemic environment. Also, this paper contributes a better understanding of the gender dynamics informing the COVID-19 socio-economic climate.

ELT Assessment Patterns Dictate Teaching-Learning Approaches: A Hindrance to Map out Employability and Life Skills

There is a plethora of research on the multifarious dialogues on English Language as (EFL and ESL), its teaching-learning approaches, assessment patterns, the learners’ employ ability and their life skills. How all these aspects affect and influence one another, need further exploration. The most important and vital point is that English Language and Literature syllabus may be different in different colleges and universities but the assessment patterns are approximately the same. The alarming situation is that maximum questions are responded through cramming and rote learning where there is no reflection of creative skills and competency in English Language. However, exceptions are always there. The focus and significance of the present study is “how can the ELT approaches and assessment patterns be adapted and transformed specifically to meet the demand of the labor market, employability and life skills. (i) the researcher collected and analyzed 75 Question Papers of English from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and (ii) developed questionnaires cum opinionnaires for the 50 ELT teachers and the students in Jazan University, Jazan (KSA), and administered online. To determine findings and conclusion, the collected data have been analyzed in the employability, life, and soft skills perspectives that confirmed the validity and reliability of the present research hypothesis.

ANALISIS PENGARUH SOFTSKILL, PENGHARGAAN FINANSIAL, DAN PERTIMBANGAN PASAR KERJA TERHADAP KARIR AKUNTAN PUBLIK

Analysis of Soft Skill Influence, Financial Reward, and Labor Market Considerations on intention of A Public Accountant Career. This study aims to know the relationship between soft skill, financial reward, and Labor Market Considerations on intention of a public accountant career. The sample collection of this study has been done by the university students of Faculty of Economy and Business of UKSW batch 2017 and 2018. Data processing is conducted by using quantitative approach with Linear Regression Analysis. The amount of sample is about 186 respondents, 90 respondents from batch 2017 and 96 respondents from batch 2018. The data was obtained by spreading questionnaire on google form. The results of this study identify that soft skill, financial reward, and labor market considerations have significant effects to public accountant career

Placing greater emphasis on vocational education in Kenya

Kenya, like other countries in the Sub Sahara Africa (SSA), Technical, vocational education, and training (TVET) is believed to be an obvious remedy to youth employment across the region. As we view TVET in this way, the perception in many if not all the countries across SSA is that TVET is a salvation for the intellectually incapable or those with less or no aspiration for better paying jobs. For the elite and middle class, TVET is in reality not for their children, as it seems almost ‘useless’. Interestingly, even with such perceptions, Kenya and other SSA countries have continued to ‘embrace’ TVET in their education systems but with little investment towards those TVET programmes. In 2018, there was a shift in policy in Kenya with TVET receiving more attention, and as a result attracting a larger budget allocation. The government slashed fees for students in technical and vocational education institutions, and raised public funding in its latest bid to grow the critical skills base needed to achieve the country’s economic ambitions. To support this policy, the government agreed to give an annual bursary of US$300 for every student who joins the technical institutions (University World News, 2018). The students will access the funding through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the agency that disburses loans to university students on behalf of the government. This policy comes as a result of the World bank warning regarding a widening disconnect between labour market skills needs and the graduates of higher education institutions. This paper provides an overview of the state of TVET in Kenya, challenges and possible recommendations to support the new TVET reforms towards making it more attractive for learners in Kenya.

Mapping, Development and Validation of Skills in Bulgaria – Trends and Perspectives

The article deals with the challenges related to the integration of the labor market system in Bulgaria, on one hand, and the systems of education and training, on the other. Its objective is to analyze the country’s lifelong learning system and, in particular, its aspects related to the mapping, development and validation of skills. The study is aimed at identifying the impact which the aforementioned processes have on labor market skills matching. The analysis covers responsible institutions, stakeholders and partnerships, as well as the main strategies in the field of lifelong learning in Bulgaria. An overview of the measures in support of the access of individuals within active working age to continuing education has been made.

Early-Life Nutrition and Subsequent International Migration: A Prospective Study in Rural Guatemala

BackgroundIt is generally accepted that migrants are favorably self-selected for labor market skills such as higher schooling and greater cognitive capacity, which are highly correlated with early-life nutrition. However, the influence of early-life nutrition on later-life migration is understudied. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to examine prospectively the association between height-for-age z scores (HAZ) at 24 mo and subsequent international migration in a cohort of 2392 participants born between 1962 and 1977 in 4 rural villages in eastern Guatemala. MethodsInformation on nutritional status and covariates was collected between 1969 and 1977 and migration status was determined as of 2017 (at ages 40–57 y). We used proportional hazards and logistic regression models to assess whether HAZ was associated with international migration, adjusting for early-life and adult characteristics. ResultsBetween 1978 and 2017 there were 297 international migrants (12.4% of the original cohort) during 99,212 person-y of follow-up. In pooled models that were adjusted for early-life characteristics, a 1-SD increase in HAZ was associated with a 19% increase in the risk of international migration (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.38). Further adjustment for village characteristics did not alter the estimate substantively (HR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.37), while additional adjustment for schooling attainment attenuated the estimate somewhat (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.33). In all models, effect sizes were stronger for men than for women. ConclusionsOur results indicate that early-life nutrition is positively associated with subsequent international migration.

Ready to Study? Academic Readiness of Traditional and Non-Traditional Students in Germany

Pathways to German higher education have diversified considerably during recent decades and approximately one quarter of all first year students enter higher education with a qualification for the skilled labour market. This contribution seeks to identify different types of pathways to higher education and examine the differences among these groups regarding five dimensions of self-reported academic readiness. For our analyses, we used data on Starting Cohort 5 of the National Educational Panel Study. Our results suggest that for most of the indicators of academic readiness, students who entered via non-traditional pathways reported lower levels of academic readiness than traditional students did. In particular, students without a formal higher-education entrance certificate reported lower levels of academic readiness than any other group did. These patterns remained largely stable after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and institutional destination.

Сучасні тенденції молодіжної зайнятості в Україні

The relevance of the scientific article topic is due to the growing importance of human capital as a major factor in economic growth, so higher education is becoming an important means of forming a new generation of qualified personnel and the development of intellectual capital. As a basis for the formation of human capital, education is related to the functioning of the labor market. The imbalance in the development of higher education and the labor market causes both a surplus of specialists in certain areas of training and a shortage of highly qualified personnel in some specialties. Scientists consider human capital from the standpoint of economic asset, which is formed by investing in education and training of the worker, and contributes to the specific effect associated with the involvement in material production of economically active labor. The purpose of the article is to assess the state of the national labor market and study the share of economically active population by level of education, identify existing problems and the ways of their solving. The results of the study. The training of skilled labor in Ukraine is suboptimal and does not meet the needs of the domestic labor market, which requires their synchronization. Despite the decline in the main quantitative indicators of higher education coverage, over the last ten years about 70% of students have become students of higher educational institutions and Ukraine ranks fifth position in Europe and twelfth position in the world in terms of higher education coverage. It is established that the shortage of personnel trained to work in the new socio-economic conditions is an objective reason for changing the structure of specialties for which training is carried out, and the chronic lack of funding for higher education forces to expand enrollment in social sciences and humanities disciplines which attract students. The main reasons for informal employment are the imperfection of organizational, managerial and regulatory mechanisms of the labor market, employment, imbalance in the labor market and educational services, which do result in changes in the quantitative and qualitative structure of the labor market and personnel skills mismatch. In this context, the optimization of public procurement and funding of training in higher education institutions remains relevant. It is investigated that in addition to the formal signal of professional competencies in the form of a diploma, the employer considers the presence of job applicants “soft skills”, which are considered non-specialized, between professional skills that allow professionals to adapt to new conditions, perform non-standard tasks to change the field of employment. Conclusions. Ukraine’s national economy could be more productive if the state focused on ensuring the productive potential of young people. “The positive effects of public investment in youth employment can be enhanced by ensuring that young workers have the necessary skills. In this sense, linking infrastructure investment to labor market policies will help increase the number and quality of jobs for young people” [10]. The research shows that in Ukraine the quality of training in the system of higher educational institutions does not fully meet the needs of the national labor market, which causes a high level of unemployment of their graduates. As a result, Ukraine is losing the factors of economic growth – human and intellectual capital, which migrates abroad not realizing itself in the country. Thus, it requires new approaches to the development of the higher education system and in modern conditions higher educational institutions should intensify activities aimed at strengthening cooperation between business and employers in maximizing the adaptation of educational programs to the needs of the national economy which are extremely popular with domestic experts. Key words: labor market, human capital, labor resources, unemployment.

Search Costs and Wage Inequality

Abstract This paper analyzes how search costs affect skilled-unskilled wage inequality. In the basic model, we find that an increase in skilled labor’s search costs will decrease wage inequality if the skilled labor market and the unskilled labor market are separated. In the extended model, our findings are as follows: (i) Even if there exists free entry into the unskilled labor market or the endogenous provision of public goods, an increase of search costs in the skilled labor market will decrease wage inequality; and (ii) if skilled search costs are negatively related to the skilled wage, wage inequality will be increased.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HUMAN JOBS

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) does influence human jobs but not necessarily in a negative way. Although labor force participation rates and firms’ job vacancies for human labor decline, the unemployment rate may be lower than that in an economy without AI. In an economy with heterogeneously skilled workers, the invention of AI usually has a negative effect on the skilled labor market but a positive effect on the unskilled labor market. The overall unemployment rate may decline as AI develops.

IDENTIFICATION OF TEACHING COMPETENCIES AMONG TVET INSTRUCTORS TOWARDS THE REALIZATION OF 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Developing in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) continuously is a challenge for the career of TVET instructors to maintain their success. It is very necessary to encourage teachers for making progress in teaching and efficient learning. It is also of great importance to have the ability to understand the skills that are required by their job needs. From a broader perspective, those trained through the processes of vocational learning will meet the labor market's skill needs. In the aftermath of this study, teaching should be focused on the profile of the teaching competencies of the TVET-instructor. The Delphi approach was the compilation, interpretation, and evaluation of qualitative data in this study. Qualitative data was collected from the 11 expert panels of TVET, based on their skills and experience. The quantitative data were collected using the questionnaire set by the researcher based on the competence of the teaching elements proposed by the Delphi system. The random sampling technique was used as respondents from five selected public skills training institutions in the selection of 106 mechanical engineering and manufacturing technology instructors. Research findings have shown that the dimension of teaching technique is important for teaching profiles of competencies at the instructors of the Public Skills Training Institution TVET. In the context of mastering the competence for the implementation of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the study also found that the use of project-based learning methods is ranked as the lesser in teaching methodology as it should be reinforced at five selected training institutions for public skills.