Towards an inclusive labour market : skills for the future

Erjavec, Eva (author)

In the transition to a knowledge-based society, human capital has become a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and social progress. As industries evolve and new technologies reshape labour markets, the development of future skills plays a crucial role in ensuring workforce adaptability, productivity, and long-term competitiveness. A bibliometric analysis aims to examine the importance of human capital for economic growth and the transition to a knowledge economy, synthesizing existing research and academic discussions. By systematically reviewing the literature, this paper seeks to provide insights into how skills and education contribute to sustainable economic development and social resilience. Furthermore, it identifies key research gaps, emerging trends, and the evolving role of human capital in an era of rapid technological change. Additionally, this paper develops a conceptual framework outlining the essential skills required for the future workforce, integrating insights from technological advancements, economic shifts, and industry transformations. The framework categorizes skills into core areas, including digital literacy, AI proficiency, data analytics, sustainability expertise, and soft skills such as adaptability and critical thinking. Furthermore, this paper explores the necessary transformations within the workforce, highlighting the structural changes needed in education, corporate training, and policy frameworks to align skill development with future market demands. By mapping the transition pathways, this paper provides recommendations for workforce adaptation, ensuring that businesses, governments, and educational institutions are prepared to meet evolving labour-market needs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: personnel, human capital, artificial intelligence, work performance, future skills, AI, workforce transformation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: EF - School of Economics and Business
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.06.2026
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 155-175
• Numbering: Vol. 28, iss. 2, article no. 5
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-183255
• UDC: 331.3
• ISSN on article: 2335-4216
• COBISS.SI-ID: 280179971
• Publication date in RUL: 09.06.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Economic and business review
• Publisher: Ekonomska fakulteta
• ISSN: 2335-4216
• COBISS.SI-ID: 268649216

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: kadri, človeški kapital, umetna inteligenca, delovni učinek

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P5-0128-2018
• Name: Izzivi vključujočega in trajnostnega razvoja v prevladujoči paradigmi ekonomskih in poslovnih znanosti

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J5-4540
• Name: J5-4540