Changing Competency Expectations in the Labor Market
Authors
-
Nóra Hegyi-Halmos
AffiliationNóra Hegyi-Halmos is an assistant professor at the Institute of Research on Adult Education and Knowledge Management, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest. She holds degrees in Education and Human Resource Management from ELTE and Janus Pannonius University. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the role and practice of school-based career orientation in Hungarian secondary schools. Over the course of her two-decade academic career, she has primarily taught and developed curriculum in the fields of human resource development and competence development. In addition to her university work, she has participated as an expert and researcher in numerous educational research and development projects, and provides consultancy in competence assessment and development processes. She is a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences’ public body and serves as the institutional representative of ELTE in the Mellearn Association.
-
Tünde Tóth-Téglás
AffiliationTünde Tóth-Téglás is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Adult Education Research and Knowledge Management, ELTE. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from Corvinus University of Budapest. She completed her doctoral studies at the economic psychology program of the Doctoral School of Economics of the University of Szeged. In her dissertation, she examined the competency expectations of graduates starting their careers and the competency management practices of organizations. At the beginning of her career, she worked as a human resources manager in the corporate sector, and has been working in higher education for 15 years. She is responsible for human resource development, competency management, communication and management courses and related curriculum development. She is a member of the Lockdown Generation research group conducted within the framework of FHERC.
-
Anna Orsolya Pongor-Juhász
AffiliationAfter two decades working as an organisational development consultant, Anna Orsolya Pongor-Juhász started working at the Institute of Research on ELTE, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Adult Education and Knowledge Management in 2022 to share her business experience with students. As a lecturer, he teaches courses related to human resource management and competence development. After obtaining a Master's degree in Economics in Management and Leadership from Szent István University, she completed a Master's degree in Teacher of Economics at Corvinus University of Budapest, followed by a Master's degree in Educational Sciences at ELTE, and is currently a PhD candidate at ELTE's Doctoral School of Education. Her doctoral research focuses on the institutionalisation processes of micro-private schools.
Abstract
The labor market has undergone radical transformations recently, influenced by technological advancements, globalization, and social changes. Although labor market forecasts from 10–15 years ago already anticipated significant transformations, events of the past five years—notably the COVID-19 pandemic and the acceleration of digitalization—have further emphasized the importance of workers' adaptability and skills (IFTF 2011; PwC, 2017; Manpower, 2016; World Economic Forum 2016, 2023, 2025; Cedefop, 2023; OECD, 2024). The development of the labor market competencies is currently shaped by three key factors: technological advancements, economic transformations, and social changes. The labor market transformations presented in this study necessitate adaptation from all labor market stakeholders, including employers, employees, and educational institutions responsible for workforce preparation. As stated in the World Economic Forum report, "Given the rapid pace of change, disruptions to business models almost simultaneously impact employment and the demand for new skills, necessitating urgent and coordinated efforts for adjustment." (WEF, 2025, 8). As a result of technological, economic, and societal transformations, industries are adapting, workplaces are restructuring employment models, and the nature, location, and content of work are evolving. Many occupations are undergoing fundamental transformations, requiring the acquisition of new knowledge and competencies.
Keywords:
Transferable competencies, Labor market transformation, Lifelong learningCitation data from Crossref and Scopus
