COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE LABOR POTENTIAL OF THE REGIONS OF UKRAINE

The article substantiates the main problems affecting the state and development of the labor potential of the regions of Ukraine and the state as a whole. Theoretical and methodological aspects and the evolution of approaches to the study of the essence and assessment of the labor potential of the region are highlighted. The author’s approach to the interpretation of the structure of the labor potential of the region with the justification of its quantitative and qualitative characteristics is proposed, methodological tools for assessing the state of the labor potential of the region are developed. The methodology was tested on official statistical data on the regions of Ukraine for 2020. Based on the analysis of the obtained integral characteristics, the regions of Ukraine were grouped, taking into account the qualitative and quantitative components of the labor potential. Spatial regularities in the placement of the labor potential of the territories of Ukraine are revealed. Most regions of the southwestern part of Ukraine are characterized by high levels of the qualitative component of the labor potential (mainly due to high health indicators) and high levels of the quantitative component of the labor potential, but it has been found that the existing labor potential in these regions is not used effectively. Large industrial regions in the east of Ukraine have a high level of the qualitative component, but an insufficient level of the quantitative component of the labor potential. The northern regions of the country are characterized by low indicators of both quantitative and qualitative components. Firstly, it concerns the Chernihiv and Sumy regions. Southern regions, such as Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, are characterized by high rates of the quantitative component of the labor potential against the background of a low level of the qualitative component. Kyiv is the only region with a high level of qualitative and quantitative component of labor potential. The results of the study can be used in the course of the implementation of the state regional policy, in the activities of municipal and regional governments when making strategic and operational decisions.