Identification Of The Demand Of Welders In The Labour Market Of Lithuania

Abstract

The shortage of welding specialists is a long-term problem in the labour market of Lithuania. Ststistical data show the lack of thousands specialists in this field with increasing gap between their supply and demand. It creates concern, because the shortage of skilled welders forces enterprises to refuse many profitable orders. In this article is presented the analysis of the reasons regarding the shortage of welding specialists in the labour market of Lithuania; also here are disclosed the gaps in the identification of the demand of welders and justifying the importance of this identification of demand for effective functioning of labour market. Referring to the results of research there can be stated, that the goal to satisfy the real needs of economy in welding specialists can be achieved by identifying the demand in terms of concrete qualifications of these specialists and in terms of numbers of required specialists. Absence of exact data in these fields creates the situation of uncertainty which does not permit smooth functioning of vocational guidance and vocational education and training of these specialists. As a consequence, it is not possible to ensure adequate reaction of the VET system to the demands of labour market. There are suggested instruments helping to identify the levels of qualifications and competences of welding specialists, to classify them into specialities and specialisations and to define the limits of their qualifications. There is also provided the model for identification of the demand of welding specialists in the national labour market. These measures create favourable preconditions for adequate reaction to the existing shortages of welding specialists and for the satisfaction of corresponding needs in the sectors of economy.