Vilnius Technology School of Business and Agriculture International Project "International partnership to improve the quality of teaching in vocational schools" Innovations and information technologies for vocational education and labour market needs Prof. Boguslavas Gruževskis Institute of Labour Market Research Lithuanian Social Research Centre 2017-04-07

CONTENT Labour market trends and skilled labour problems; VET sector as the frontline in global economic challenges; Future needs of labour market and developments of VET sector.

Main idea of the presentation Skills are a global currency. EU is experiencing a skilled workforce crisis: 2.1. EU countries increasingly feel the shortage of skilled labour; 2.2. The number of NEET young people is growing in EU and OECD countries. On the one hand we have the growing needs of skilled labour, on the other - high youth unemployment, social exclusion and spread of poverty culture in twenty-first century Europe.

The main employment problems in EU. Results of the Employers' Survey Source: Eurobarometer: European SME Observatory, 2007.

NEET YOUTH in EU and LITHUANIA, 2005-2014

Unemployment in Lithuania, January, 2017 34,3% Source: Lithuanian Labour Exchange

VET sector is at the frontline of European countries response to major global challenges

What makes VET sector a special role? 1. VET sector combines technological changes in the everyday life (trade, transportation, repair services, personal services, etc.); 2. Qualified workers prepared in VET sector are like the "bridge" between the creation of technologies and their use in practice.

What makes VET sector a special role? 3. Services provided by VET sector are suitable for different groups of population, it is an effective tool for reducing NEET in our countries; 4. VET sector can and should to adapt to technological changes in a short time.

VET sector is not an independent player Economic changes Changes of forms and curriculum of training VET Population needs

Economic impact of changes in VET There is a growing influence of information technologies and its role in the economy; Rapidly changing techniques and tools of production; Decline in the average size of the company, decline in professional specialization field (needs for multi- professional training); Growing value of foreign languages and intercultural communication; Growing role of soft, social competences.

Changes in forms of training in VET sector On-line learning Virtual recognition of learning results Tele-education Serious games On-line collaboration tools Mobile / SMS learning Simulations

Changes in curriculum of training in VET sector Self-motivation skills Information search skills Application of knowledge, understanding of the diversity of activities New curriculum of training Ability to learn Analytical skills Perception of social and ecological consequences Perception of cause and consequences

Impact on population needs changes VET for youth and VET for adults (aging of our societies); Social exclusion and low learning motivation (drop-outs); Low educational quality from the basic schools.

What is dictated by the labour market? Falling demand for labour in the sphere of production (J. Rifkin, The End of Work); Increasing employment flexibility; Increasing value of labour market adjustment capabilities (Global competition); Increasing role of labour mobility (professional and territorial).

Future perfect employee competence Universal IT competences; Specific IT knowledge/ competences gained by profession; The basic knowledge of business development, organizational skills; Self-discipline (Career development skills).

Establishment and liquidation of job places in Lithuania, 2017

Labour force demand by qualification in Lithuania, 2017

Highest employment opportunities in Lithuania, 2017 TOP 5 for specialists TOP 5 for skilled workers Sales professionals Heavy truck and lorry drivers Doctors Butchers, fish processors IT and communication professionals Metalworking machine operators Nursing professionals Tailors, Furriers Pre-school teachers Construction workers

Lowest employment opportunities in Lithuania, 2017 TOP 5 for specialists TOP 5 for skilled workers Translators and linguists Hairdressers Economists Business services managers Interior designers and decorators Passenger car, taxi and van drivers Lawyers Cosmetics and related workers Public sector employees Florists

Directions of VET development Attracting VET for different groups of youth; Attracting VET for elderly population; Faster and deeper development of training programs (acc. real needs).

Directions of VET development Development of partnership with the industry and business; Development of post-VET pathways; Developing an understanding of student risk factors, faster and more intensive responses to at-risk students .

Thank you for your attention!