Employers’ View on Problems Related to Workforce Skills and Qualification

Abstract

The aim of this exploratory study is to reveal employers’ views on problems related to workforce human capital (skills and qualification). Where do employers themselves view the core of difficulties with ensuring adequately skilled workforce? Do they assign them to technological and organizational changes (a functional concept of job-specific human capital obsolescence), or do they see these problems as a result of other circumstances, such as macro-structural conditions or institutional settings? To answer these questions selected employers in mechanical engineering and information technology sectors in the Czech Republic were interviewed. The results show that the employers see the problems: 1) on the side of workforce – insufficient abilities and skills, exaggerated demands and low motivation; 2) as inadequate capacities and capabilities of the organization itself; 3) at macro-level as institutional shortcomings in the initial educational system and social benefits system. The problems related to workforce skills and qualification cannot be, thus, interpreted only in the functionalist view as job-specific human capital obsolescence, but the formulation of the problems is significantly affected by the institutional framework.

Keywords

• Human capital
• skills
• obsolescence
• employers
• training
• organization of production