LABOUR MARKET TRENDS AND OCCUPATIONAL INTERESTS OF YOUTH IN LATVIA

Una Libkovska (), Veronika Bikse (), Inese Lusena-Ezera () and Daina Vasilevska ()
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Una Libkovska: Ventspils University College, Latvia
Veronika Bikse: Liepaja University, Latvia
Inese Lusena-Ezera: Liepaja University, Latvia
Daina Vasilevska: Liepaja University, Latvia

Economic Thought and Practice, 2017, vol. 26, issue 2, 829-846

Abstract: The 21st century has witnessed significant changes in the labour market and production structure. It is important to forecast these changes on an on-going basis in order to ensure a balance between the demand in the labour market for workers with adequate qualifications and their supply. The aim of the paper is to study the labour market forecasts for Latvia and on their basis to find out whether the present structure of the education system will meet the labour market demands for professionals with appropriate qualifications, to detect problems and to propose possible solutions. To achieve the purpose of this study, the paper describes the present situation in the labour market; the development trends of the labour market in Latvia were analysed up to 2030 and broken down by sectors of national economy and occupational groups, as well as by changes in educational levels and academic disciplines. The finding of the study is that the present structure of higher education does not match the forecasts for the development of the labour market, concerning the demand for specialists with the highest qualifications in particular. The occupational interests of the young people who were interviewed are not harmonised with the demand in the economy. This proves that, in order to coordinate further directions for action between the employment, education and structural policy makers, social partners and scientists, it is important to take into consideration labour market forecasts and their analysis so that a balanced development would be facilitated in accordance with the demands of today's labour market.

Keywords: labour market; employment; vocational choice; occupational interests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J64 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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