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Brain-Drain and Skill Mismatch: Can Higher and Vocational Education Bridge the Gap?
(2025)
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Objectives: This study explores how migration dynamics can shape the ability of education and training systems to address skill shortages and labor market mismatches through a unique comparative study of findings from North Macedonia, Ethiopia, and Ukraine which are considered countries of origin for migrants. Specifically, it investigates whether Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers can produce graduates whose qualifications align with the evolving economic demands, and how these institutions adapt their curricula, foster collaboration with the industry, and cope with resource constraints to mitigate skill gaps which are notably pronounced by brain-drain. Data and Methods: Based on primary qualitative data from conducted interviews with HEIs and VETs, labor market intermediaries, and policy stakeholders, we employed a thematic content analysis to extract patterns regarding curriculum relevance, tracking of graduate employability, perceptions on the quality of education, and responsiveness to technological and structural labor market changes. Additionally, secondary data from statistical databases on migration flows and employment trends throughout the last decade contextualize the interview findings, thus providing a comparation between the four countries. Results: Findings show that a significant share of education institutions believe their qualifications meet the labor market needs, but systematic tracking of graduate outcomes remains a challenge. Interviewees acknowledge skill mismatches since curriculum updates struggle to keep pace with the rapid organizational and technological changes. As a significant contributor towards this is also the insufficient cooperation with businesses. While many institutions attempt to update programs through stakeholder consultation or national accreditation processes, financial constraints were highlighted to limit the required improvement. Furthermore, it is generally understood that brain-drain amplifies the national labor shortages, as graduates with relatively better skill and performance often emigrate for better opportunities. Policy measures such as targeted training programs, wage subsidies, and even active labor market interventions seem to be already employed but yield mixed results across countries. Interviewees emphasize the importance of practical internships, flexibility in learning, and modernized educational frameworks in mitigation of skill shortages and retention of domestic talent. Conclusions: The study highlights an urgent need for reinforced institutional collaboration and robust curriculum reforms that align with global standards. Strengthening public-private partnerships, greater integration of technology as well as enhancing international cooperation particularly through EU-led frameworks appears to be essential in mitigating brain-drain and ensuring that education and training systems in the four countries respond effectively to the labor market demands.
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Stakeholder perceptions of migration policies and investment in human capital development: expert interview evidence from policymakers, labor market organizations and social partners in North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Ethiopia
(2026-01-16)
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Introduction: Policies that combine human capital development and migration governance are necessary because migration alters the labor supply and skill distribution across economies. Through a cross-country approach, four migrant-origin countries, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Ethiopia, that reflect various combinations of demographic pressures, institutional capacity, and conflict shocks are examined in this study. Methods: Using standardized qualitative expert interviews with policymakers, labor market intermediaries, and social partners, analyzed through a reflexive thematic analysis, the study explores the respondents’ perceptions and the channels through which education and migration policies, as perceived, interact to influence labor market outcomes. Results: Respondents reported that migration dynamics exacerbate structural unemployment, gender disparities, brain drain, and ongoing skill mismatches in all four countries. Interviewees highlight structural gaps in technical training and job-readiness in Ethiopia, while in Ukraine, a prime example of the disruptive effects of war, population displacement strains both education and the labor market. In North Macedonia and Türkiye, skill mismatches are pronounced by the notable emigration as well as the inefficiency of retention mechanisms. Among all studied countries, participants identified demand-based training and reliable institutional frameworks as crucial levers for reducing shortages and slowing the human capital depletion. Discussion: The comparative study emphasizes the need for policies that efficiently connect labor market demands, migration management, and education to achieve a balance between social demands and long-term socioeconomic growth.

Faculty of Economics

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