Competencies of graduates as future labour market participants – preliminary study

• Main Authors: Małgorzata Gawrycka, Justyna Kujawska, Michał T. Tomczak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
• Series: Ekonomska Istraživanja
• Subjects: graduates; employers; labour market; competence gaps; competencies
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2019.1631200
• ISSN: 1331-677X; 1848-9664

The aim of article is to examine and compare the views of employers and future employees on the desirable competencies of the potential labour market participants. The applied research method is a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods – interviews conducted among recruiters (representing potential employers) and a survey of university graduates (future employees). The study shows that both the Polish graduates and the employers identify the deficits of professional competencies. The differences of opinions were related to their assessment of generic competencies, the deficits of which were pointed to by the interviewed recruiters, who described them at the same time as fundamental to obtaining the employment. Meanwhile, the graduates assessed their generic competencies as the highest. According to the recruiters, the future employees lack also practical experience. On the other hand, the employers believe that the graduates are not prepared to using the possessed theoretical knowledge in practice. It should be noted, however, that employers perceive a great potential for the development of graduate competencies, which, together with acquiring practical experience, will probably lead to the narrowing of the competence gap.