Businesses and Schools Must Anticipate Labour Market Needs Together

Czech employers suffer from lack of skilled workers. On the other hand, young graduates do not find jobs that match their qualifications and have to accept jobs that do not meet their expectations and unfold their talent. The New Skills Agenda for Europe adopted by the European Commission in June, aims to equip citizens from early youth with a wide range of skills.

Better anticipation of labour market requirements and cooperation between schools and employers could help recent graduates gain a position on the labour market corresponding to their qualifications, agreed the speakers of the debate that took place on the 8th September in the European House in Prague. Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports welcomes the agenda, especially its focus on the entire range of skills and specific course of action. According to Petr Černikovský from the Ministry, the title “Skills Guarantee” is not well chosen, because without sufficient motivation of individuals the acquisition of skills cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, he does not agree with heading towards the EQF level 4, which is not feasible in the Czech conditions due to the large proportion of people with vocational education without secondary school certificate. That viewpoint is shared by the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, which also points out that the primary part of the agenda is to link digital skills with the development of STEM education.

According to the Confederation it is necessary to promote digital skills at all stages of education and training. “E-apprenticeship will play an important role and should be the focal point of the Coalition for Digital Skills and Jobs”, stressed Vladimíra Drbalová from the Confederation. Another key measure to ensure the right skills are acquired is the involvement of companies in vocational education, both in the creation of educational programs as well as in their implementation.