Matching the Competencies of Students and Graduates of Economics-Related Fields to Labour Market Requirements in Poland – Results of Own Research

Abstract The labour market in the 21st century is undergoing dynamic transformations driven by technological progress, automation, digitalisation, and ongoing globalisation. In this context, the question of whether higher education graduates’ competencies are aligned with the real needs of the economy is becoming increasingly important. These changes affect not only the structure of employment and the demand for specific professions but also redefine the very expectations placed on employees’ competencies. Forecasting difficulties regarding the future of the labour market involve not only identifying professions at risk of disappearing but, more importantly, determining which new qualifications and competencies will be desirable in the future. Technological changes are leading to a situation in which skills once considered crucial may lose their relevance within just a few years. The growing pace of change forces the continuous updating of curricula, and the analysis of graduates’ competency alignment becomes not only a practical necessity but also a scientific challenge. In this context, the question of the adequacy of higher education graduates’ competencies – particularly, for the purposes of this article, those of economics graduates – takes on special significance. The aim of the article is to assess the extent to which the competencies of economics graduates are aligned with the requirements and realities of the contemporary labour market in Poland. The article is divided into two research areas. The first focuses on surveying employers in order to identify their demand for the competencies of economics graduates. The second concerns the examination of the competencies of the students and graduates themselves. Both groups were studied to determine the degree of correlation between the competencies acquired by students/graduates and the actual competencies currently required and expected by employers. The results of the analyses made it possible to identify competency gaps that may negatively a ect graduates’ employability and competitiveness.