What are the skills of the current labor force in Moldova? First results from the Survey on skills measurement and labor market barriers in Moldova (STEP-lite) Olga Kupets Skills for Jobs Conference Chisinau, Moldova May 15, 2019 Outline ❑ Relevance ❑ Data & methodology ❑ Findings ❑ Conclusions 2 Relevance Disconnect between the supply and demand Data & methodology Findings for skills Conclusions Employers Poor Weak Reasons for information incentives disconnect Education Students Low capacity and training and providers jobseekers 3 Relevance Data & methodology Findings Objectives of the study Conclusions Objectives: • Shed light on the skill profiles of the workforce in Moldova • Identify the extent to which different skills of the current workforce are valued in the labor market • Suggest areas for targeted skills policies & identify questions for further in- depth research Preliminary analysis aims to: • Provide descriptive statistics and basic correlations • Identify the impact of household and individuals characteristics on education and skills • Test the association between education, skills, and labor market outcomes 4 Relevance Data & methodology Where is STEP being implemented? Findings Conclusions 19 participating countries + BLISS in Bulgaria → Albania → Ukraine → B&H → Serbia → China (Yunnan → Armenia Province) → Kosovo → Azerbaijan → Georgia → Libya → Macedonia → Lao PDR → Sri Lanka → Vietnam Philippines Wave 1 – 2011-2012 Wave 2 – 2013-2015 Wave 3 – 2016-2017 → Indicates that the country has an employer survey 5 Data available at: http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/step/about Relevance Data & methodology Findings Moldova Skills Measurement Survey Conclusions Supply of Skills → Survey of Individuals (Households) Coverage: urban and rural areas in all regions of Moldova, except for Transnistria Target population: adults aged 18-64 years (non-institutionalized population, except for individuals lacking mental capacity) Sample size: 2070 individuals Fieldwork: 13 October 2018 – 30 March 2019 Response rate: 33 % Structure: Module 1 – Household information (selection of the primary respondent) Module 2 – Education Module 3 – Health and preferences Module 4 – Non-cognitive skills Module 5 – Employment Module 6 – Skills at work Module 7 – Language and family [Module 8 – Interviewer impressions of modules 2-7] Module 9 – Cognitive skills 6 Relevance Data & methodology Findings Skills measured Conclusions Cognitive skills Use of foundational skills at work ▪ Reading (self-assessed) ▪ Numeracy ▪ Languages Cognitive skills (tests) ▪ Memory ▪ Reading, vocabulary ▪ Numeracy Non-cognitive Personality & behavior ▪ Openness ▪ Conscientiousness Big Five skills ▪ Extraversion ▪ Agreeableness (OCEAN) ▪ Neuroticism (Emotional stability) ▪ Grit ▪ Decision-making Risk preference ▪ Willingness to take risks Social intelligence ▪ Reading the mind in the eyes test Job-relevant Job requirements & learning times ▪ Qualifications required for the job & learning times Skills used at work ▪ Computer use skills ▪ Interpersonal skills ▪ Learning and thinking ▪ Autonomy and repetitiveness ▪ Physical tasks ▪ Making presentations ▪ Supervising others ▪ Driving a vehicle ▪ Repairing equipment 7 ▪ Operating heavy machinery Workers in public services and high-skilled occupations have different skill profiles in terms of skills used at work but not non-cognitive skills 8 Relevance Jobs in Moldova are physically demanding and often Data & methodology Findings require interaction with people other than co-workers Conclusions Intensity of using skills at work by employed adults (18-64 years) 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Reading Thinking Learning Computer Numeracy Physically Autonomy demanding Interpersonal Repetitiveness High (3) Medium (2) Low (1) Skill not used (0) 9 Workers in public services use reading, interpersonal skills Relevance Data & methodology and learning at higher levels of intensity than workers in Findings other sectors Conclusions Mean score of using skills at work by sector 2.5 0.7 2 0.6 0.5 1.5 0.4 1 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.1 0 0 Driving Reading Thinking Repairing Learning Presenting Computer Numeracy Physically Autonomy demanding Interpersonal Repetitiveness Supervising others Supervising Lifting heavy goods heavy Lifting Agriculture Agriculture machinery Operating Industry & Construction Industry & Construction Trade, Transport, Accommodation, Other services Trade, Transport, Accommodation, Other services Business services Business services Public services Public services 10 Relevance Workers in high-skilled occupations use reading, Data & methodology Findings computers, interpersonal skills, thinking and learning at Conclusions higher levels of intensity Mean score of using skills at work by broad occupational group 2.5 0.7 0.6 2 0.5 1.5 0.4 1 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.1 0 0 Driving Reading Thinking Learning Repairing Computer Numeracy Autonomy Presenting Interpersonal Repetitiveness Supervising others Supervising Lifting heavy goods heavy Lifting Operating machinery Operating Physically demanding Physically High-skilled Skilled non-manual High-skilled Skilled non-manual Skilled manual Elementary Skilled manual Elementary 11 Relevance Data & methodology Digital skills used at work by Moldovan workers are not Findings advanced Conclusions Percentage of workers who reported about the use of computer at work by type of computer activity 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Email Searching for information in the Internet Data entry Word processing (such as Word) Spreadsheets (such as Excel) Databases (such as Access) Macros and complex equations in spreadsheets Book-keeping, accounting or financial software Presentation, graphics software (such as PowerPoint) Designing websites CAD software (computer aided design) Statistical analysis or other analysis Software programming Managing computer networks 12 Ethnic groups report that lack of writing and reading skills in Romanian and computer skills is an obstacle to their career advancement 13 Relevance The largest percentage of workers reporting problems is for Data & methodology Findings Gagauz & Ukrainian people and residents of T.A.U. Gagauzia Conclusions Percentage of individuals reporting that the lack of literacy or computer skills has prevented getting a job/promotion/pay rise 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Total Male der Gen Female 18-24 ➢ Over 30% of Gagauz people 25-34 35-44 report about the lack of Age 45-54 55-64 reading and writing skills in Lower than upper secondary Romanian as an obstacle to Upper secondary Post-secondary non-tertiary getting a job/promotion Education Tertiary Moldovan /pay rise Romanian Russian Ukrainian ➢ Over 20% of them also Ethnicity Gagauz Mun.Chisinau report about the lack of North computer skills as an Center Region South obstacle to getting a T.A.U. Gagauzia Employed job/promotion/pay rise Unemployed force Inactive, students Labor status Inactive, other Lack of writing/reading skills in Romanian is an obstacle 14 Lack of computer skills is an obstacle Workers living in T.A.U. Gagauzia are also the most critical about Relevance Data & methodology the usefulness of studies during formal education for performing Findings Conclusions current work Percentage of employed individuals (in the past 7 days or 12 months) reporting how useful their education is for performing work 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Total Male der Gen Female ➢ Overall, about 54% of 18-24 25-34 adults who applied to a job 35-44 Age 45-54 in the past 5 years reported 55-64 Lower than upper secondary that an employer asked to Upper secondary Post-secondary non-tertiary certify/prove qualifications Education Tertiary or work experience. Moldovan Romanian Russian Ukrainian ➢ Ethnicity Residents of South and Gagauz Mun.Chisinau Center need to prove their North Center qualifications more often Region South T.A.U. Gagauzia than residents of the High-skilled (ISCO 1-3) Skilled non-manual (ISCO 4-5) Chisinau municipality. n Skilled manual (ISCO 6-8) Occupatio Elementary (ISCO 9) 15 Very useful Somewhat useful Not useful at all Actual education of workers is often higher than the minimum level of education required for a job 16 Relevance Many workers with college or university diplomas are Data & methodology Findings overeducated for their job Conclusions Percentage of employed individuals (in the past 7 days or 12 months) by match between the level of actual and required education 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% ➢ Roughly one in three Total workers (rural and Lower than upper secondary urban) are Upper secondary overeducated for Post-secondary non-tertiary their jobs. Tertiary Employed (urban&rural) Employed ➢ Urban workers with a Total college degree (PSNT) Lower than upper secondary have the highest Upper secondary incidence of Post-secondary non-tertiary overeducation (over Employed (only urban) (only Employed Tertiary 44 percent). overeducated wellmatched undereducated 17 Relevance Data & methodology Moldova has similar problems as other ECA countries Findings Conclusions Percentage of urban workers overeducated for their job 40 35 Moldova seems to be 30 the leader in terms of 25 20 the incidence of 15 overeducation among 10 5 urban workers with a 0 university degree Armenia Georgia Moldova Ukraine Serbia North Macedonia (Bachelor/ Master/PhD). Tertiary All levels Note: Moldova 18-64 years (2018-2019), other countries 15-64 years (STEP surveys in 2012-2017). 18 Participation in training programs is not widespread, especially in the private sector 19 Relevance Training is