Comparative Analysis of Skill Shortages, Skill Mismatches, and the Threats of Migration in Labor Markets: A Sectoral Approach in North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ethiopia, and Ukraine

Violeta Cvetkoska (), Predrag Trpeski, Igor Ivanovski, Filip Peovski, Meryem Hamsi İmrol, Berk Babadoğan, Halil Ecer, Durmuş Ziya Görür, Umut Selvi, Adula Bekele Hunde, Fekede Tuli Gemeda, Yosef Beco Dubi, Segii Melnyk, Andrii Lytvynchuk and Hanna Tereshchenko
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Violeta Cvetkoska: Faculty of Economics—Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Predrag Trpeski: Faculty of Economics—Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Igor Ivanovski: Faculty of Economics—Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Filip Peovski: Faculty of Economics—Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
Meryem Hamsi İmrol: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara 06590, Türkiye
Berk Babadoğan: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara 06590, Türkiye
Halil Ecer: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara 06590, Türkiye
Durmuş Ziya Görür: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara 06590, Türkiye
Umut Selvi: Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara 06590, Türkiye
Adula Bekele Hunde: Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa 1165, Ethiopia
Fekede Tuli Gemeda: Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa 1165, Ethiopia
Yosef Beco Dubi: Kotebe University of Education, Addis Ababa 1165, Ethiopia
Segii Melnyk: State Scientific Institution “Institute of Educational Analytics”, 02000 Kyiv, Ukraine
Andrii Lytvynchuk: State Scientific Institution “Institute of Educational Analytics”, 02000 Kyiv, Ukraine
Hanna Tereshchenko: State Scientific Institution “Institute of Educational Analytics”, 02000 Kyiv, Ukraine

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-34

Abstract: Labor markets worldwide are increasingly strained by skill shortages, mismatches, and migration pressures, disrupting workforce stability and economic growth. This study conducts a comparative sectoral analysis in North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, focusing on the manufacturing, information and communication technology, and hospitality sectors, to examine the root causes and economic consequences of these challenges. Using a qualitatively driven mixed-methods approach, the research integrates expert interviews, surveys, and labor market data to assess skill gaps, workforce imbalances, and the role of migration. The findings reveal education–industry misalignment, inadequate vocational training, and low wages as persistent drivers of shortages. Additionally, the war in Ukraine, internal conflicts in Ethiopia, and refugee inflows in Türkiye amplify workforce instability, while North Macedonia faces severe emigration, particularly in the sectors of manufacturing and information and communication technologies. These insights are essential for policymakers, industry leaders, and educators in designing labor market interventions that foster workforce resilience. The study recommends national qualification reforms, industry–education collaboration, and improved wage structures to mitigate talent loss and strengthen labor market sustainability. By offering empirical evidence from diverse socio-economic contexts, this research contributes to global discussions on workforce development, migration economics, and labor policy reforms.

Keywords: skill shortage; skill mismatch; labor migration; sectoral analysis; talent retention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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