New Industrialization: a Competency Gap and Labor Market Institutions

Abstract:

The purpose of the study, which has become the basis of this article, is to reveal the meaning of the «competency gap», which occurs as a consequence of new industrialization. We have studied the «competency gap» at the industrial enterprises of the Sverdlovsk region and estimated the existing labor market institutions in terms of the impact on the «competency gap» reduction. As the main forms of manifestation of the «competency gap», we considered the following: acquisition of information competencies of a universal nature; multitasking as the main characteristic of the workplace, multicompetence as a requirement for candidates; accelerated obsolescence of professional competencies. The methodology of the study included focus groups, the participants of which were 11 heads of human resources departments of enterprises that are members of the Sverdlovsk Regional Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. The study confirmed the relevance of the manifestation forms of the «competency gap» for enterprises of the Urals. Evaluation of existing labor market institutions in terms of influence on the reduction of the «gap in competence» was carried out during a sociological research by interviewing 100 heads of enterprises that are members of the Sverdlovsk Regional Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. The study confirms the correctness and applicability of the approach implemented in the countries of the European Union in the Russian Federation, which considers the institutes of «continuous education» as efficient in solving the problem of a «competency gap». These institutions include dual education, corporate education, vocational guidance systems, independent qualification assessment systems and professional standards. The results of the research are applicable in further studies of the impact of new industrialization processes on the labor market, as well as in the practice of working at all levels of human resources management.