Investing in human capital in the era of European Universities: The uneven geography of skill mismatches across the regions of the European Reform University Alliance

List of Authors

  1. Effie Emmanouil
    ,  
  2. Kostas Gourzis ,  
  3. Kostas Boukouvalas
    ,  
  4. Stelios Gialis
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Abstract

This paper examines the uneven geography of skill mismatches by studying the regional allocation of highly educated workers in high, medium or low skill-level occupations. To this end, a conceptual framework is developed combining Geographical Political Economy with theorizations around the optimal allocation of human capital. A comparative empirical analysis is then conducted using the Location Quotient Index for the period 2009-2021 for five countries (Greece, Bulgaria, France, Germany and Denmark), where the universities affiliated to the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) are located. The results of this analysis are then contextualized through correlations with various macroeconomic, population density, and demographic metrics, which represent factors underlying the uneven geography of skill mismatches. The analysis stresses five critical factors behind the regional and occupational allocation of skills: economic dynamism at the national level, regional industrial specializations, urbanisation levels, demographic structures, and institutional endowments. Moreover, it is argued, these factors behind human capital development tend to reproduce geographical unevenness rather than ameliorating spatial inequalities. Based on these observations, a set of policy actions is recommended based on the five factors mentioned above and the EU’s New Skills Agenda. With the above, the paper offers valuable insight into the negative externalities associated with skills mismatches, taking into account the different socio-economic models and school-to-work transition systems across the EU. Moreover, it attempts to make a positive contribution to the European Universities Initiative, as examining the skills gaps in the regions associated with the ERUA strengthens the Alliance itself and helps to bridge existing inequalities.

Plain Language Summary

The economic downturn of the last fifteen years, beginning with the 2008/09 Global Crisis up to the currently unfolding energy crisis, have shaped and accelerated the European Commission’s efforts towards the digital and energy transitions (often referred to as twin transitions), paying particular emphasis on workforce’s skills and education. The EU Skills Agenda sets ambitious targets to ensure access to education and lifelong learning in all regions of the Union. Adopting a comprehensive approach which incorporates institutional, evolutionary, and political economic influences, this paper examines the uneven geography of skill mismatches by studying the regional allocation of highly educated workers and whether they tend to be employed in high, medium or low-skilled occupations.

To do so, a comparative empirical analysis is conducted using the Location Quotient Index for the period 2009-2021 for five countries (Greece, Bulgaria, France, Germany and Denmark) where the universities affiliated to the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) are located. Specifically, the consortium implemented the ReERUA Horizon Project (Grant agreement ID: 101035808), in the frame of which the analysis at hand is conducted. The results of this analysis are then correlated with various metrics that pertain to factors that influence the spatial allocation of workforce skills.

The paper reveals five factors that are critical to the geographical and functional allocation of skills: economic dynamism at the national level, regional industrial specializations, urbanisation levels, demographic structures, and institutional endowments. Finally, a set of policy actions are recommended based on the five factors mentioned above and the EU’s New Skills Agenda.

Corresponding author
Stelios Gialis
0000-0001-5204-6009
Grant information

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101035808, Research and Engagement for the European Reform University Alliance (ReERUA). The first author acknowledges the contribution of the Act ‘Strengthening human resources through the implementation of doctoral research - Sub-Action 2: Granting of the IKY (State Scholarship Foundation) scholarships to doctoral candidates of the Universities of Greece’ through the Operational Programme ‘Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning’, 2014–2020, funded by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund) [ΟΠΣ 5113934].

Copyright
© 2025 Effie Emmanouil (Co-Author); Kostas Gourzis (Co-Author); Kostas Boukouvalas (Co-Author); Stelios Gialis (Corresponding Author, Co-Author) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Amendment

We would like to thank the reviewers for their valuable and insightful comments. We have proceeded with major revisions on our manuscript, following most of their points, which we found well raised. Summarily, the main changes made to the manuscript are as follows:
The targeting of the manuscript was reoriented more clearly towards the inquiry of the uneven geography of skill mismatches. This is reflected in all Sections.
In line with the first point above, the Theoretical and Conceptual Section has been extensively revised to reflect this reorientation.
The Empirical Analysis has also been extensively revised, that includes a part where the geographical allocation of highly educated workers in high, medium, and low skill-level occupations is correlated with a series of metrics related to the factors discussed in detail in the next (Discussion) Section. To this end, a Correlation matrix of several factors that influence the spatial allocation of workforce skills was added. Τhe table showing the Share of highly educated workers in low, medium and high skill-level occupations, per region, 2009 and 2021 was moved to the Annex at the end of the paper, for clarity reasons.
In line with the previous point, the Discussion has been revised so that the postulations disclosed, appear more evidence-based. 
Lastly, the policy recommendations in the Conclusions Section have been further specified considering our conclusions on the uneven geography of skill mismatches.

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Authors & roles

Effie Emmanouil

Geography Department, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece, 81132, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Writing – Original Draft Preparation

Kostas Gourzis

Geography Department, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece, 81132, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0001-7434-9270

Kostas Boukouvalas

Geography Department, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece, 81132, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Data Curation

Stelios Gialis

Geography Department, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece, 81132, Greece

Roles
Corresponding Author, Co-Author, Supervision
0000-0001-5204-6009

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