Vocational education and the labor market in the European Union: challenges of alignment and directions for development

Анотація

This article examines the challenges of aligning vocational education systems with the needs of the labor market in European Union countries amid profound socioeconomic and structural transformations. The relevance of this research stems from the growing imbalance between the demand for skilled labor and the supply of vocational skills, which is exacerbated by the digitalization of the economy, the green transition, demographic changes, and the transformation of employment models. In these conditions, vocational education plays a key role in fostering labor market adaptability, ensuring regional competitiveness, and supporting sustainable economic development. The aim of this article is to identify key trends in the development of vocational education in EU countries, assess its alignment with labor market needs, and justify directions for improving mechanisms to coordinate educational and economic policies. The methodological basis of the study consists of general scientific and specialized methods of economic analysis, in particular comparative analysis, statistical methods, and the analysis of time series and structural changes. The article analyzes the main institutional models of vocational education organization in the European Union, including dual training systems, mechanisms for involving employers in the development of educational programs, tools for forecasting skill needs, and the development of lifelong learning. It has been found that, despite the positive dynamics of vocational education development in the EU, significant imbalances persist in many countries between the structure of workforce training and the actual needs of regional labor markets. Directions for the development of vocational education as a tool for enhancing the adaptability of regional labor markets are substantiated, including strengthening the regional component in the management of vocational education, developing partnerships between educational institutions, government bodies, and employers, as well as integrating vocational education into broader regional economic development strategies. The practical significance of the results lies in their potential application in shaping regional educational and economic policies, as well as in adapting European experience in modernizing vocational education to the conditions in Ukraine.

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