CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF REGIONAL POLICY FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: A PROJECTION OF BALANCING THE REGIONAL LABOR MARKET

Abstract

The article substantiates theoretical and methodological approaches to the formation of regional policy for reforming the vocational education system aimed at balancing the labor market amid socio-economic challenges, particularly demographic decline and active migration processes. The relationship between the quality and effectiveness of vocational education and the development of the regional labor market is analyzed, which determines the level of training of qualified skilled workers capable of meeting the needs of the economy. The multifunctional role of the vocational education system is demonstrated, which not only reproduces labor potential but also contributes to the structural balancing of labor supply and demand, integration of education with production through dual education, modernization of technological processes, and enhancement of the prestige of skilled professions.
Two blocks of regulation of the vocational education system are identified: the administrative-legal block, which provides the regulatory framework, organization, financing, and management of the education system; and the functional-economic block, based on indirect mechanisms of influence through the labor market, employers, and other social institutions. Special attention is paid to the role of proactive (distribution, stimulation, regulation) and passive (mediation, rehabilitation, information) functions of regional policy, which ensure the adaptation of the vocational education system to changes in the socio-economic environment. It is emphasized that a comprehensive approach to regulation, combining direct and indirect mechanisms, is key to improving the quality and accessibility of vocational education, developing human capital, and ensuring sustainable regional development in crisis conditions. The necessity of continuous labor market monitoring and coordination of actions among authorities, educational institutions, and businesses is highlighted for the formation of effective educational policy and enhancing the competitiveness of regions.