The green and digital transitions are creating significant challenges for the labor market, making it imperative to continuously upgrade the knowledge and skills of individuals through lifelong learning activities.
This was emphasised, among other things, by the Director General of the Human Resources Development Authority (HRDA), Yiannis Mourouzides, in statements to InBusinessNews, as he highlighted the Authority’s role and importance.
At the same time, referring to the Human Resources Development Authority’s programmes, he pointed out that “our human resources are the economy’s most important resources,” noting that “the best and most effective use of human resources, by businesses and organisations in Cyprus, leads to increasing productivity and strengthening their competitiveness and resilience and strengthens the prospects for the development of the economy.”
In relation to the labour market, Mourouzides told InBusinessNews that “the significant and rapid changes in the content of professions, which mainly come from the green and digital transition of the economy, the increasing use of new technologies and especially robotics and of artificial intelligence, as well as the new forms of work, create significant challenges for the labour market and make it imperative to continuously upgrade the knowledge and skills of individuals through lifelong learning activities.”
The Authority, he continued, as the responsible body for the promotion of vocational training in Cyprus, has developed a modern and flexible training system, which adapts to the rapid developments in the labour market.
In this context, he explained, “an important range of activities operates that offer both the employed and the unemployed the opportunity to acquire new and upgrade existing knowledge and skills in a wide variety of subjects, as well as to certify their professional qualifications.”
Increased interest Authority programmes, but there is room for improvement
Asked if there is interest in the Authority’s programmes, Mourouzides, after emphasszing that “our human resources are the most important resource of our economy”, pointed out that “the best and most efficient use of human resources, by businesses and organisations in Cyprus, leads to an increase in productivity and strengthening of their competitiveness and resilience and strengthens the prospects for the development of the economy.”
According to the Director General of the Authority, participation in the Authority’s actions both for the lifelong learning of the employed and for the integration of the unemployed into employment, are demonstrating an increasing trend over time.
There are, however, he underlined, significant scopes for improvement of the participation in the Authority’s programmes.
For example, he said, “there is a limited participation of small businesses in Authority activities”, underlining that “the Authority’s aim is to increase the participation of individuals and businesses, which will also contribute to the achievement of the national goal of Cyprus regarding the overall education and training participation rate for 2030, which is 61% of the 25-64-year-old population taking part in lifelong learning activities each year.’
“Cyprus businesses and organisations must invest in the continuous upgrading of their human resources, utilising the Authority’s services,” he pointed out, concluding that “in addition, the individuals themselves must take their own share of responsibility realising the need for lifelong learning, so that they remain competitive in the labour market and consequently remain employed.”
(Source: InBusinessNews)
