HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, REGIONAL LABOR MARKET PERFORMANCE, AND SPATIAL WORKFORCE DISTRIBUTION IN EUROPE: A COMPARATIVE GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

Aleksandra Stoiklovska, Gordana Serafimovic and Todor Badarovsk
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Aleksandra Stoiklovska: University of Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia.
Gordana Serafimovic: University of Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Todor Badarovsk: Faculty of Economy, University „Goce Delcev“ Shtip. Republic of North Macedonia.

UTMS Journal of Economics, 2026, vol. 17, issue 1, 32-45

Abstract: Regional differences in workforce skills, employment participation, and institutional capacity represent a persistent feature of European labor markets. While human resource management research traditionally focuses on organizational practices such as recruitment, training, and workforce development, the territorial context in which these processes operate remains less frequently examined. This study analyzes the relationship between workforce education, institutional capacity, and regional labor market performance across selected European regions. The empirical analysis combines harmonized regional indicators obtained from Eurostat, OECD regional statistics, and European governance datasets. The methodological framework integrates descriptive statistical analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine how workforce characteristics influence regional employment outcomes. Geographic information system (GIS) techniques are further applied to visualize spatial patterns in labor market performance. The findings show that regions with stronger institutional coordination and higher educational attainment usually achieve better employment outcomes. In contrast, regions with weaker institutional frameworks and lower human capital accumulation display lower employment performance and persistent territorial disparities. The results suggest that regional labor market outcomes depend on the interaction between workforce education, institutional effectiveness, and spatial accessibility.

Keywords: human resource management; regional labor markets; human capital; spatial workforce distribution; regional development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J24 O15 R11 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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