The mismatch of the education system with the needs of the labour market in BiH is a problem that has been in focus for a long time. The education system must follow the needs of the labour market with such educational programs that will open the possibility for students to be recognized in the labour market, once they complete the education. Labour market research in the Federation of BiH, which was held in 2020/2021. also focused on this important challenge for policy makers. Key data related to this topic were published in a thematic report “Guidelines for creating educational policies”.
This research, conducted with the technical support of the project “Improving labour market research” funded by the European Union, provides recommendations, highlighting the strengthening of dialogue between employment services, employers and educational institutions, which would result in solutions at the local and cantonal level related to the enrollment policies, curricula, as well as solutions to other issues related to education and the labour market.
According to the survey results, the largest percentage of employers (82.5%) are satisfied with the quality of qualifications, knowledge and skills of workers with whom employers had the opportunity to cooperate, while 14.8% of employers are dissatisfied and believe that workers lack practical work during education, followed by the opinion that the acquired qualifications do not meet the needs of employers (53.8%).
Of the total number of employers who stated that candidates lack knowledge and skills (301), a significant percentage of employers (42%) believe that candidates lack technical or professional knowledge and skills, followed by a lack of self-initiative and creativity (21%), IT knowledge and skills (19%), project management skills (18%), organizational, analytical and planning skills (17%), foreign language skills (16%) and social skills (15%).
Out of the total number of surveyed employers (1232), 433 of them (35%) have the opportunity to accept pupils and students for practical classes. Given that there is a wide range of occupations for which employers can organize practical classes and training, it is necessary to establish better cooperation between employers and educational institutions in order to use this potential.
The thematic report is only a cross-section of the situation related to education and employment, and as such is only one of the elements that should be taken into account when creating educational policies. Also, it should be borne in mind that the term “link between education and the labour market” has a long-term perspective, it suggests that education should prepare students and pupils for future labour market needs, which does not necessarily mean that the education system must be adapted to the current employers’ needs.
Total value of the project «Improving Labour Market Research» is 1,282,500 EUR of European Union grants. The project is implemented by international consortium NIRAS, GOPA and Public Employment Service of Republic of France from September 1, 2020 till September 1, 2022. The report is available at www.trzisterada.ba
