Demanding university courses are one of the reasons young people, not just in Slovakia, shied away from certain fields of work. (source: Ján Krošlák)
Amid profound changes in labour markets, a rise in machine learning and data analysis in business, and the growing importance of the green economy and the effects of the global climate crisis on industry, experts are working to identify what professions will be most in demand in the future.
IT specialists, doctors and teachers are often seen as jobs that will be key to society going forward.
But in Slovakia, it is precisely these kinds of skilled workers that are missing from the workforce, local experts say.
Low remuneration and poor working conditions, among others, are often cited as some of the reasons for the shortage of such workers.
Local experts say, though, that the state has not done enough to promote and encourage people to enter these professions.
They note that while there are some state initiatives supporting young people to study for skilled jobs, employers say the schemes are not good enough.
“We do not have a policy or strategy for developing the necessary talent in Slovakia,” Mário Lelovský, vice-president of the Republic Union of Employers (RÚZ) told The Slovak Spectator. “We only have ad hoc initiatives.”
He and HR experts are calling for analytical and predictive data and follow-up financial, advisory and other support tools to be used to help the state develop talent.
They also dismiss any suggestion that a lack of funds is preventing the development of more skilled labour.
“It is no longer entirely the case that we don’t have the resources – rather, it is the case that we can’t use them effectively,” said Lelovský.
Shortage of qualified labour
Labour market watchers and employers have been reporting shortages of skilled workers in the Slovak labour force for many years.
They do not expect the situation to improve in the near future.
