Kyrgyzstan: TVET institutions align their enrolment with results of the analysis of demand for the skilled labour force

The capital city of Kyrgyzstan hosted an on-line meeting to discuss the report entitled “Analysis of demand for skilled labour force and demand-driven TVET enrolment planning in Djalal-Abad region”.

News | 30 March 2021
BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN –.The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of education and science and State-Secretary of the Ministry of health and social development of the KR.  Around 50 participants from Djalal-Abad oblast and central authorities, employment services, rayon statistical offices, lyceums, colleges and higher education institutions of Djalal-Abad oblast attended the meeting.

The comparison of labour market demand and supply interventions were undertaken in 2020 within the framework of the Applying the G20 Training strategy project: A partnership of the ILO and the Russian Federation" (Phase 2).

The employers’ survey covered more than 450 legal entities and 430 individual entrepreneurs engaged in 28 types and sub-types of activity. Based on collected data, experts have calculated current and anticipated demand for the skilled labour force in the Djalal-Abad region for 2021-2023 by occupations and qualifications. They also formulated four types of recommendations for the TVET institutions:

Recommendations

Sufficiency of annual number of graduates (annual number of graduates/ number of employed by occupation)

Unemployment (number of job seekers/ number of employed)

Projected growth rates of the employed by occupations

To preserve current annual number of graduates

Not more than 10%

Low unemployment (no more than 5-6%)

Medium growth or small reduction in the number of employed (0-3%)

To increase annual number of graduates

Not more than 10%

Low unemployment (no more than 5-6%)

High annual growth rates in the number of employed

To reduce the annual number of graduates

More than 10% of total employed

High unemployment (more than 5-6%)

No growth or reduction of the employed is expected in future.

To open new training programme

No graduates at all

Low unemployment (not more than 5-6%)

High number of the employed and high growth rates


In addition, data on the supply of the skilled labour force, job seekers and TVET graduates was collected. The data was then applied for the analysis and recommendations for the regional lyceums, colleges and higher education institutions. Methodological approaches developed by the Project served as a basis for the analysis and calculations.
 
It was noted during the meeting that the report on Djalal-Abad oblast will be used as "table book" for all key stakeholders and TVET institutions in the country. TVET institutions will be re-shaped so that to produce those skilled labour force which is in need in the labour market of Djalal-Abad oblast.

The Ministry of health and social development of the Kyrgyz Republic has requested to include in the survey questions on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the operation of the enterprises and how it impacted workers in the region.

Survey results showed that due to the lockdown, out of 900 surveyed enterprises: 450 ceased their operation for the period of lockdown; 185 moved to teleworking; 60 reduced production volume; 10 enterprises increased production, other restrained to answer. 13.7% of physical entities answered that they were going to reduce the number of employees for the lockdown period, 13,2% of legal entities and 5,1% of physical entities intended to reduce salaries.

Out of 900 surveyed enterprises, 120 enterprises employ workers with disabilities – their total number amounts to 308 persons (191-females and  117 males). Only 10 of the surveyed enterprises have accommodated workplaces for the needs of workers with disabilities, 2 allow them to work with flexible time schedule, 1 enterprise covers medical and training costs for  staff with disabilities.