3.3 Skills forecasting
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Forecasting system(s)
In order to determine the skills needed in the labor market, the Employment Service Agency (ESA) conducts a research study that provides certain short-term indicators of employers' expectations in terms of new employment and the skills needs of persons to be disposed of, as they could be competitive in the labor market. The findings obtained from the survey for skills needs analysis provide the basis for creating active programs and measures for the preparation for employment, aimed at raising the skills of the unemployed, in order to increase their competitiveness in the labor market and faster employment. Also, the findings obtained from the survey research are also the basis for the preparation of local action plans for employment, and they can also serve in the drafting of the enrollment policy, while creating new educational programs for occupations that are in line with the needs of the labor market.
As a tool for predicting the labor market based on market demand, the HERMAC model was developed under the Twinning Project "Support to the National Employment Policy" MK2007/IB/SO/02 (funded by the European Union). The project envisages making annual estimates by 2025. It is composed of two main parts: a demand side and an absorption side and is designed for long-term forecasting of labor market development and policy analysis. The model methodology is based on the original HERMIN model developed by Bradley (2000 and 2005) used mainly for analyzing macroeconomic impact of structural funds. The structure of the HERMIN allows its application also for countries with limited available data which was the case of the Beneficiary Country. There is currently no information on whether institutions consult the scenarios in the policy making process.
Last year, the Employment Service Agency conducted the “Survey on the need for skills in the labor market in the Republic of North Macedonia for 2022”. The purpose of the survey research is to provide certain short-term indicators of employers' expectations regarding new employment and the skills needs that people should have, and how they could be competitive in the labor market. Research results for the 2022 year, obtained from the survey, represent the basis for the creation of active employment programs and measures, which aim to raise the skills of unemployed persons in order to increase their competitiveness on the labor market and to contribute to the creation of conditions for its better functioning. through the intersection of supply and demand of appropriately skilled labor.[1]
Skills development
According to the results of the above mentioned survey conducted by the Employment Service Agency, ESA is conducting training (for computer skills, language courses, handicrafts etc.) for unemployed people who are registered in ESA as active job seekers.
As digital skills are on high demand, in the Operational Plan for Active Employment Measures 2023 (Оперативен план за активни програми и мерки за вработување и услуги на пазарот на трудот за 2023 година) one of the employment programs and measures is focused on development of digitals skills. The measure aims to upgrade the skills of 735 unemployed persons under the age of 40 in the field of information technologies in order to increase their competitiveness and faster integration into the labor market.