From University to Employment: Higher Education Provision and Labour Market Needs in Serbia

This study analyses higher education (HE) provision and labour market opportunities in Serbia by looking into four inter-related issues: the provision of HE, the current situation of the graduate labour market, the challenges facing graduates and employers on the labour market, and the skill gaps and skill mismatches that hinder graduate labour market integration. The study concludes with a set of recommendations on measures needed to ease graduates’ transition to the labour market. The data used in the study was collected from March to August 2015. It includes two large-scale surveys: one among recent HE graduates (1,438 respondents) and one among organisations that employ HE graduates (177 respondents). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with management staff of higher education institutions (HEIs), ministries, employers’ associations, and trade unions.