Are Slovak talents ready for the future? Why must we connect business and education?
The Slovak labor market is changing faster than ever before. Automation, digital transformation, and globalization are creating new, complex challenges for HR departments and job seekers alike. Having a degree is no longer enough; mastering so-called Future Skills is becoming the key to success and competitiveness.
As a recruitment agency that connects top talents with market leaders daily, we see clearly: Slovakia urgently needs to deepen collaboration between the business sector and educational institutions. Without this strategic partnership, the gap between companies’ demands and graduates’ readiness will only widen.
What are Future Skills, and why are they the new currency in the labor market?
The term Future Skills is no longer just a buzzword. It refers to a critical set of interdisciplinary competencies that enable people to thrive successfully in an ever-changing and unpredictable world.
This world is increasingly characterized by the acronym VUCA:
- Volatility: The speed and scale of changes in the market.
- Uncertainty: The difficulty of predicting the future.
- Complexity: The number of factors and conflicting information.
- Ambiguity: The obscurity of reality and the potential for misinterpretation.
Future Skills are therefore crucial because they effectively complement, and sometimes even surpass, hard technical knowledge (hard skills). Technologies and specific tools change relentlessly fast – what is relevant today may become obsolete in a few years. In contrast, Future Skills are timeless and represent a fundamental human ability to learn, adapt, and innovate effectively.
They have thus become the new currency that determines the value and employability of talents in the Slovak and global labor markets.
Key Future Skills sought by HR and that you need to develop:
- Critical thinking and complex problem-solving: The ability to analyze information, challenge assumptions, and come up with original solutions that artificial intelligence (for now) cannot replicate.
- Creativity and Innovation: The courage to think “out of the box” and develop new approaches – this is the engine of business growth.
- Digital literacy and data handling: Not just using digital tools, but also understanding how data influences decision-making and how to leverage AI effectively.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: The readiness to learn new things and quickly adjust to changes within a team, project, or the entire corporate culture.
- Emotional intelligence and collaboration: The ability to communicate effectively, lead teams with empathy, and collaborate in diverse and often virtual environments.
Slovak data don’t lie: It’s time to act.
What is the real situation in Slovakia? Survey data focusing on graduate readiness regularly point to an existing gap. For example, the Employer Satisfaction Survey (Hodnoť.to project), launched by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with CVTI SR, aims to gather feedback on how well universities have prepared their graduates for the needs of the labor market.
Although specific results vary by field, recurring feedback from companies often highlights the need for greater focus on practical, project-based experience and the aforementioned Future Skills (soft skills, adaptability, digital maturity). Employers want people who can immediately apply theory in practice, which requires systemic collaboration.
Tangible partnerships and the development of entrepreneurship
How can we improve this situation together?
- Companies must enter schools: Offer internships, mentorship, expert teaching, and let students work on real company projects as part of their studies.
- Schools must respond to the market: Update curricula more quickly and create space for developing Future Skills through direct input from employers.
- Investing in entrepreneurship: Support programs that foster a proactive approach, financial literacy, and entrepreneurial thinking already in secondary and higher education.
At Talent Solutions, we recognize this need. That’s why we actively support organizations that effectively connect business and education. We are proud to be a partner of the Junior Achievement (JA) Slovakia conference titled “Connecting Education with Business,” which takes place in Košice, 11. – November 12, 2025. This conference is a key forum where HR leaders, school directors, and students come together to explore ways to build a generation ready for tomorrow.
A challenge for HR and for talents
For HR managers: Don’t wait for “perfect” graduates. Invest in education and partnerships. Get involved in initiatives like the JA Slovakia conference. Help shape the curriculum. Building Future Skills is your recruitment strategy for tomorrow.
And something for candidates and students: Treat every opportunity for internships, volunteering, or project work as training for Future Skills. These competencies will open doors to the best career opportunities in Slovakia and abroad.
Talent Solutions: Connecting your talent with the future.
