HUMAN CAPITAL AS A FACTOR OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY: ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Abstract

The article examines the critical role of human capital in ensuring the competitiveness of Ukraine's national economy within the context of global challenges and transformations. The research provides a comprehensive analysis of human capital development indicators through international indices, including the Global Competitiveness Index, Business Sophistication subindex, and Human Development Index, revealing Ukraine's relative positions and development dynamics in the global economic landscape. The study particularly focuses on the correlation between human capital quality and national economic competitiveness, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of this relationship in the modern knowledge-based economy. The research methodology encompasses both quantitative and qualitative approaches, utilizing statistical data analysis, comparative analysis of international rankings, and systematic evaluation of educational system indicators. Special attention is paid to analyzing the educational system's transformation as a fundamental component of human capital formation, including trends in the number of educational institutions and their qualitative characteristics over the period of Ukraine's independence. The findings indicate significant challenges in human capital development in Ukraine, including demographic issues, educational system transformation needs, and the impact of external factors such as military aggression and the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reveals that while Ukraine maintains relatively high positions in certain aspects of human capital development, particularly in the employment of women with advanced degrees and knowledge-intensive employment, there are considerable gaps in innovation linkages and formal training provisions. The article identifies key areas requiring strategic intervention: education system modernization, professional skills development (including soft skills and digital competencies), and healthcare system improvement. The research emphasizes the necessity of implementing comprehensive approaches to human capital development, considering both immediate challenges and long-term strategic objectives for national economic competitiveness. The practical significance of the research lies in its detailed recommendations for enhancing human capital competitiveness through targeted investments in education, professional development programs, and healthcare initiatives. The study proposes specific measures for adapting the human capital development system to the requirements of the digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The scientific novelty of the research consists in developing an integrated approach to analyzing human capital competitiveness in conditions of significant external challenges, considering both traditional metrics and emerging requirements of the modern global economy. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of human capital's role in national competitiveness while providing practical insights for policy development.