Lack of skilled labour force stems from worsened education

The lack of skilled labour force is becoming one of the chief obstacles for Slovakia's further business development, Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SOPK) President Peter Mihók told TABLET.TV on Saturday. According to him, a skilled labour force used to be one of Slovakia's key advantages, however, the country has found itself in a completely different situation within one generation. Mihók put a large share of the blame on the education system as poorly reacting to needs of the labour market. "We can't raise people who are happy while studying, but stop being happy after graduating," said Mihók pointing to large numbers of people who go abroad after their studies to have entirely different jobs for lower pay than appropriate to their education. He believes that changes need to be introduced as early as in primary schools. Mihók also lamented the fact that the number of mathematics classes has been reduced by half over the past ten years. Last week, the government discussed options to solve the situation at a session of the Solidarity and Development Council. Afterwards, PM Fico named some of the proposed measures. They include changes in the education system, distraint amnesties, a bolstering of labour force mobility and housing policy with rental flats to be concentrated more in regions to which investors flock in greater numbers. PM also emphasized that any imports of foreign workers are considered to be a measure of last resort.