Human Resources Development in the Solution of Regional Disparities in Slovakia

Abstract

Different historical, geographical, socio-economic and so­cial conditions have led to the situation that the regions in Slovakia are equipped with different start-up capital, different quality of human poten­tial and various infrastructures and therefore they develop accordingly. Re­gional disparities are understood as differences in the degree of socio-eco­nomic development of regions, which is uneven. The problem of regional disparities cannot be seen only as economic differences between regions, as there are also significant intraregional differences within a region. In the regional context, education and training of youth and adults are directly linked to employment, social security, economic and social development. Insufficient education and training of individuals reduce their employment opportunities, limit their responsible approach to work and life, worsens living conditions, increases social risks, and may deteriorate their health. The level of educational attainment is also related to the level of innova­tion performance and the competitiveness of regions. A special area is rep­resented by the preparation of capacities for the sector of research and de­velopment. The regional differences could be seen in the location of uni­versities preparing graduates for research and development as well as the placement of research and development institutions. The main aim of the paper will be to point out how human resources could be deployed in the solution of regional disparities in Slovakia.