| Abstract [eng] |
Inadequacy of Trained Higher Schools Specialists for Labor Market Needs Greta Versockytė (work tutor PhD. Eugenijus Dunajevas). INADEQUACY OF TRAINED HIGHER SCHOOLS SPECIALISTS FOR LABOR MARKET NEEDS. Master Thesis. V.: VU Department of Social Work, 2016. 87p. SUMMARY The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the needs of the job market, taking into account whether the qualifications obtained from higher education are sufficient to meet those needs. While it is widely believed that higher education results in easier employment, its nevertheless important that the degree area meets the needs of the job market. Graduates not meeting the needs of the job market has been a prevalent issue since the restoration of independence, which lead to discussions about improving study programmes in order to solve this problem. One of the key causes is that higher education institutions are more likely to take into account the demands of the students than the needs of the job market. The existing discrepancy in the job market has negative effects on all parties involved – the graduates themselves, as well as the employers and the state. The discrepancy in the job market is influenced by the government policies. While the government is inclined to ensure that the graduates meet the needs of the market, it is hindered by the lack of research to estimate the market needs, as well as the lack of efficiency in current study programmes, which allow excessive flexibility to the students, who do not have enough information to correctly assess the situation. The empirical part contains the analysis of secondary data, as well as a qualitative analysis of document contents. The types of economical activity were aligned with the education fields. The secondary data analysis was aimed at investigating the fit of graduates to the needs of the job market, while the content analysis was aimed at deeper understanding of the phenomenon. The results show that 9 out of 11 areas have a surplus of candidates in the job market, but only 7 out of 11 in 2014. The largest surplus can be seen in the area of pedagogy and administration, while there is a lack of employees in the areas of excavation and manufacturing, as well as in transport and preservation. The trend seems to improve every year, however, in the areas where the lack of employees has been around since 2008, the deficit keeps increasing. The results can be explained by multiple factors. Most frequently, the discrepancy in certain areas is influenced by the current status of the state, as well as the policies in each specific area. The representatives of the institutions of higher education usually do not recognise the problems regarding the surplus of graduates. This is most often brought up by the employers or politicians. On the other hand, the lack of graduates in certain areas is shown by the collaboration of the employers and the institutions of higher education. However, the main cause for the discrepancy is the surplus of graduates in certain areas of higher education. |
