Skills mismatch in the labor market: The future of work from the viewpoint of enterprises in case of Kosovo

Abstract

The transition path from education to employment is a key determinant of sustainable economic growth and development. A poorly trained workforce penalizes companies when they try to grow (Cojocaru, 2017, p. 25). It is generally accepted that university graduates as workforce are the key driver of economic growth and development. The main aim of this study is to identify the difficulties faced by enterprises in the Republic of Kosovo to provide the necessary profiles with adequate skills. Employers say students don’t have the ability to think critically, innovate, solve complex problems and work well in a team (Alsop, 2015) In order to analyze the problems that companies face during the selection process, the necessary training, and also the projections for new employments for the coming years, this study uses the primary data provided by the face-to-face questionnaire. The program used for data analysis in SPSS. We came to the conclusion that enterprises find it difficult to ensure the right skills they require, the university graduates lack practice experience and soft skills. The right person with the right skills in the right workplace is the driving force behind the well-functioning of the labor market. The study comes up with further recommendations for the well-functioning of the triangle higher education institutions, policymakers, and enterprises.