Demand for employee competencies in the context of digitalization of services

Aim. This study aims to explore the competencies currently in demand in labor market under the influence of digitalization and to assess the need for adjustments in educational programs to train specialists capable of adapting to rapidly evolving requirements.

Objectives. The work analyzes how digitalization services impact the labor market and professional requirements. It investigates the importance of adaptable skills for professional success, evaluates the relevance of educational programs in meeting the needs of the digital economy, and identifies key competencies necessary for specialists to successfully adjust in new working conditions.

Methods. The study was conducted using a formal logical approach. A combined methodology was applied, including an analysis of existing studies and data collected by the presidential platform “Russia – Land of Opportunity” and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; case studies of leading companies Gazprom, Russian Railways, and Sberbank to analyze in-demand competencies, in combination with the main methodological approaches of economic theory. Priority fields for the development of digital innovations in the educational sphere were identified. The methodological approach includes the study of the competency-based approach, digital profiling of students and their professional growth.

Results. Key competencies in demand in the modern labor market are identified, namely partnership, leadership, emotional intelligence, self-development, adaptability, and digital skills. It has been established that adaptable skills are becoming more important for employers in the context of digitalization than highly specialized knowledge. Discrepancies were revealed between the expectations of employers, universities and students regarding the importance of a number of skills. The introduction of digital technologies as services in educational and professional practice in terms of social capital has significantly increased the efficiency of the process of assessing and managing students’ professional development.

Conclusions. Digitalization requires educational institutions to review their approaches to training specialists, with an emphasis on flexible and digital competencies, including for successful adaptation to future labor market requirements. The digital student passport serves as a significant tool for integrating the educational process and practical activities, creating a basis for a more accurate assessment and development of students’ social capital, which helps improve the selection processes and support for professional growth.

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