Assessment of gaps in the demand and supply parameters of professional competencies of engineering personnel in digitalization context

Abstract

Abstract The relevance of the research is determined by the priorities of technological, innovative and digital economy development, which change the needs of business in relation to professional competencies of employees, increase the uncertainty of forecasting the future needs of the economy in labor resources, and increase the supply and demand imbalances in regional labor markets. Based on a comparative analysis of methodological approaches to the analysis and forecast of professional competencies, the article suggests an approach to measuring quantitative and qualitative parameters of gaps in the labor markets of the region. It is proved that the strongest gaps occur in areas with a high concentration of financial and organizational resources that allow achieving significant economic results in the implementation of promising areas of regional development. Based on a step-by-step grouping of professions that are in demand in the labor markets in areas of accelerated development, according to the criteria "vacancy period" and "intensity coefficient per vacancy", professional groups with high levels of gaps are distinguished. Quantitative parameters of gaps are assessed based on comparison of lists of professional competencies acquired in the system of professional education and labor functions, in accordance with professional standards. Qualitative parameters of gaps are set based on a survey of employers. The results of testing the proposed method are presented.