Demand of Technological Specialists in the Context of Lithuanian Industry, Construction and ICT Services Development

This research aims to analyse the dynamics of Lithuanian industry, construction, and information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors' economic indicators evaluating the demand of employees in these enterprises. As the technological universities are the main suppliers of highly qualified technological specialists for these sectors, the development of industrial, construction, and ICT businesses highly depends on the ability of technological higher education institutions to ensure the sufficient quantity and quality of new specialists entering the labour market. The research and development (R&D) activities are also very important industry development factors. Under the circumstances of massive Lithuanian depopulation, the supply of highly qualified workforce continuously declines. Only the least depopulating Lithuanian counties are able attract significant investments and create the highest value added, so the forecasts of future country's depopulation and further decline of higher educational institutions' graduates warn about the risk of possible highly qualified specialist deficit in Lithuanian labour market. The productivity of Lithuanian manufacturing enterprises is below the first quartile of European Union (EU) countries. That indicates the possible lack of highly qualified technological and management professionals in Lithuanian industry, inability to ensure the technological development, and attract the extensive investments. The specialized technological universities in Lithuania are responsible for the education of highly qualified technological specialists and implementation of industrial R&D projects, so these universities should direct their study programs and scientific activities only towards the real demands of industry and knowledge-intensive sectors.