Translated using ChatGPT service.
The Ministry of Economics (MoE), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) and the Ministry of Welfare (MoW), and with the participation of social partners, continues to work on a unified human capital development governance model to meet labor market needs.
On Wednesday, April 30, during the meeting of the Human Capital Development Council (HCDC), held at the MoE's regional office in Jelgava, the ministries continued their work on implementing the recommendations of the State Audit Office related to the governance of adult education. A unified systemic approach is being developed, which includes identifying labor market needs, developing a flexible and labor market-oriented education system, ensuring education quality and monitoring, as well as creating a unified process for individual applications and counseling. The HCDC meeting also addressed a proposal submitted by the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on how to better align supply and demand in higher education.
The unified human capital development governance model defines the responsibilities of the ministries in the context of managing human capital development and enhances institutional cooperation. At the same time, the model pays increased attention to individual learning needs and skill gaps, viewing them in the context of labor market demands. The HCDC agreed to clearly divide responsibilities among the MoE, MES, and MoW, assigning tasks to each ministry to improve the relevant processes.
“Our goal is to create a systemic approach to human capital governance that can respond flexibly to the needs of the national economy, ensure effective use of adult education funding, and adopt a targeted approach to improving individual skills and career growth. The Ministry of Economics supports a thoughtful, data-driven approach to human capital development, where every trained specialist contributes to the country’s growth,” emphasized Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
Another key topic of the meeting was the alignment of higher and vocational secondary education programs with labor market needs. This approach will enable more targeted human resource planning and ensure the training of specialists according to medium- and high-level qualifications defined by the industries. The MoE supports this approach as it promotes more efficient use of resources to meet labor market demands.
“Our goal is to shape education as a strategic tool for national development—one that flexibly adapts to labor market needs, boosts productivity, and prepares individuals to meet the challenges of tomorrow. That’s why it is crucial that labor market priorities are clearly reflected in the education agenda at all levels—from vocational to higher education,” said Minister for Education and Science Dace Melbārde.
“The Ministry of Welfare supports the efforts of the Human Capital Development Council to move toward effective adult education governance and the practical implementation of related recommendations by the State Audit Office. I believe it is necessary to strengthen and develop the functions of the State Employment Agency in ensuring labor market-relevant skills not only for the unemployed and job seekers but also for those already employed. I also believe the agency should act as the main support point for profiling these target groups and providing career consultations, helping individuals define their career paths while ensuring coordinated registration for retraining and upskilling programs, in line with the recommendations of the State Audit Office,” said Minister of Welfare Reinis Uzulnieks.
The Human Capital Development Council is a collegial institution involving the Ministries of Economics, Education and Science, and Welfare. It was established to implement coordinated cross-sectoral cooperation and make decisions regarding the planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of necessary labor market restructuring. The council aims to foster the development and availability of human resources in line with future labor market demands and structural changes in the economy to create higher added value, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.