UDC 331.5: 332.1:377; JEL І25, J21
Storonyanska, I. Z., & Benovska, L. Ya. (2026). Adaptatsiya systemy profesiynoyi osvity Ukrayiny do transformatsiyi rynku pratsi: rehional'ni dysbalansy ta instytutsiyni zminy [Adaptation of the Ukrainian vocational education system to the transformation of the labor market: regional imbalances and institutional changes]. Sotsial'no-ekonomichni problemy suchasnoho periodu Ukrayiny [Socio-Economic Problems of the Modern Period of Ukraine], 3(175), 66-75. [in Ukrainian].
Sources: 11

Authors



Storonyanska Iryna Zenoviyivna

Doctor of Economics, Professor

Head of the Department of regional financial policy of the Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine

Contacts: istoron.ird@gmail.com

Webpages:

Benovska Liliya Yaroslavivna

Ph.D. of Economics, Senior Researcher

Leading Researcher, Scientific Secretary of the unit of the Department of regional financial policy of the Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine

Contacts: lbenovska11@gmail.com

Webpages:

Resume

The key issue in developing the vocational education system is its ability to respond promptly to labor needs, which in modern conditions are formed under the influence of digitalization processes, the green transition, and increased labor market mobility. The purpose of the article is to study changes in institutional and regional imbalances of the vocational education system in Ukraine in the context of compliance with labor market needs. The methodological framework of the study is based on general scientific and specialized methods of economic analysis, including comparative analysis, statistical methods, analysis of time series, and structural change analysis. The article analyzes the trends in the development of vocational education in Ukraine and identifies the main reasons for the reduction of the network of institutions. Analysis of the spatial location of vocational education institutions revealed an uneven territorial distribution and concentration of a significant part of institutions in large regional center. To identify the features of the territorial development of the vocational education system in connection with modern trends in regional labor markets, three hypotheses were tested: G1. The transformation of the network of vocational education institutions is influenced more by the financial capacity of local governments at the regional level than by the needs of the labor market; G2. There is a relationship between the development of vocational education and the level of employment, in particular through the growth in formal employment and the reduction in informal employment (in particular in the regional dimension); G3 The transformation of the vocational education system in Ukraine occurs under the influence of European integration priorities and structural changes in the labor market, however, the speed of this transformation is limited by institutional and resource factors. The results obtained indicate the following: the reduction of the network of vocational education institutions in the regions of Ukraine does not directly depend on the financial capacity of regional budgets or the demographic dynamics of the student contingent; there is high demand in the labor market for blue-collar professions, in particular for qualified workers in technical specialties, which contributes to the rapid employment of vocational graduates; the transformation of the vocational education system in Ukraine is taking place under the influence of European integration processes and structural changes in the labor market.

Keywords:

vocational education, qualification, labor market, employment, regions

References


1. Persson Thunqvist, D., Gustavsson, M., Halvarsson Lundqvist, A. (2023). The role of VET in a green transition of industry: A literature review. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 10(3), 361-382. https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.10.3.4
2. Sethi, A., Jangir, K., Toshniwal, R., & Vaidya, R. (2024). Role of Vocational Training Effectiveness and Employment Outcomes in Sustainable Quality Education. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Sustainable Business Practices-2024 (5-6 July 2024). https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-544-7_33
3. Ippolitova, I. (2025, Oct 13). Novyy zakon pro profesiynu osvitu: klyuchovi zminy [New Law on Vocational Education: Key Changes]. Center for Economic Strategy. https://ces.org.ua/novyj-zakon-pro-profesijnu-osvitu-klyuchovi-zminy [in Ukrainian].
4. State Statistics Service of Ukraine. (2026). [Data set]. https:ukrstat.gov.ua [in Ukrainian].
5. Decentralization. (2026). Dashbord osvitnikh indykatoriv [Dashboard of educational indicators]. [Data set]. https://decentralization.ua/education/dashboard-education [in Ukrainian].
6. Aharkova, N. (2023, Dec 30). Skil’ky ukrayins’kykh ditey za kordonom: ponad mil'yon doshkil’nyat ta mil'yon shkolyariv [How many Ukrainian children are abroad: over a million preschoolers and a million schoolchildren]. ProUkrainu. https://proukrainu.blesk.cz/skilky-ukrainskykh-ditei-za-kordonom-ponad-milion-doshkilniat-ta-milion-shkoliariv [in Ukrainian].
7. Institute of Professional Qualifications-UA. (2026). Kvalifikatsiyna mapa Ukrayiny [Qualification Map of Ukraine]. https://www.futureskills.org.ua [in Ukrainian].
8. Educational Ombudsman of Ukraine. (2025, Oct 24). Prestyzhnist' profesiynoyi osvity v Ukrayini: rezul'taty doslidzhen' [Prestige of Vocational Education in Ukraine: Research Results]. https://eo.gov.ua/prestyzhnist-profesiynoi-osvity-v-ukraini-rezultaty-doslidzhen/2025/10/24/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [in Ukrainian].
9. Publications Office of the European Union. (2024). Vocational Education and Training Policy Briefs 2023: Germany. http://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2801/035346
10. StatBase. (2026). Employment in services. Ukraine. https://statbase.org/data/ukr-employment-in-services-share
11. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (2025, Aug 21). Pro profesiynu osvitu [On Vocational Education] (Law of Ukraine No 4574-IX). https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/4574-20/stru [in Ukrainian].