QUALIFICATION MISMATCH OF EMPLOYEES IN EU COUNTRIES IN THE CONTEXT OF MASTERING DIGITAL SKILLS

The article analyzes the state of skills mismatch problem and the development level of digital skills in EU countries. The development level of digital skills depends on the digital transformation of the economy, which creates not only socio-economic conditions, but also gives an impetus to mastering digital skills, essential both for career growth and for performance of basic actions according to new digital requirements. Therefore, mastering digital skills by employees will contribute to reduction of their qualification incompatibility. In the study, with the help of correlational analysis the impact of the quality indicators, characterizing digital conditions in the country, on the number of IT specialists was determined, who in turn improve these digital conditions and the degree of labor productivity. This relationship determines the demand for such employees in the labor market in the future. Indicators of digital conditions are positively correlated with the indices of skills development, skills activation and skills matching. The results of the research show that the indices of skills development and skills activation in the labor market depend on the number of employees who learned to use new software or computerized equipment at work. With the increase of employees with advanced qualifications, not only their level of development increases, but also their job opportunities. The qualification mismatch rate decreases with increasing rates of training and other education on skill development and the achievement of high digital skills. Overcoming the low level of wages and the high unemployment rate will foster the reduction of qualification mismatch. In order to summarize conclusions of statistical data analysis and correlational analysis, a cognitive model with the target factor "Qualification mismatch" was developed. The analysis showed that all factors of the system are destabilizing, thus, are ready to changes. The best-case scenario for reduction of skills mismatch is professional development with mastering digital skills.