Managing the reskilling revolution for the digital age: Case study: Western Balkan countries

Abstract

Technological changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, the green transition, geopolitical changes, and risks have all complexified the working and business environment on the global market. Employee knowledge and skills become the companies' key support, as the present circumstances compel them to react quickly and adapt to new business challenges. Education, training, and employee skills improvement aligned with new technological waves and changed work procedures are becoming prominent aspects of modern business. The analysis carried out in this paper has covered just some of the factors affecting the changes in employee skills, such as the effects of digital technologies on work performance, the problem of youth education and employment, the necessity of improving the existing workforce competencies as well as their reskilling and upskilling in the context of lifelong education. The research conducted had two goals. A comparative analysis of the implementation of supplementary adult and employee education in selected countries of the Western Balkans. The second goal was focused on the domestic labor market in order to show that local companies have a developed awareness of the need to innovate knowledge and skills, whereas it also drew attention to the specifics of that process with a distinctive focus on digital and green skills as skills necessary for modern business operations. The research results have shown that Serbian companies have become aware of the importance of a workforce that cultivates digital skills and possesses knowledge in the field of ICT. The analysis has shown a lack of awareness when it comes to personal employee upskilling, although most of the companies that participated in the research emphasize training programs and upskilling as something that is being continuously worked on.