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Evidence shows that in the labour market the most demanded specialists are those with high-level vocational skills, implying also their competence for innovation. The latest EU policy initiatives explicitly call for innovation in vocational education and training (VET) systems. This is a relatively new VET policy development. At the same time, it is not yet sufficiently discussed how innovation in VET systems could be best translated in practical terms. Traditionally innovation has been related to the research and development domain, and little routine practices exist regarding the VET system. The present paper will explore the opinions and estimations by public administrators and experts regarding the value and importance of approaches and institutional mechanisms to promote innovation in VET.The focus of the research is on the training need of innovation competent labour force in the VET system, and on the existing and needed co-operation and institutional mechanisms to secure such training. The aim of the research is to study the opinions and views of education policy makers and experts regarding the relevance of co-operation among various stakeholders in the training of innovation competent labour force, as well as and regarding the suitability and effectiveness of the existing and potential institutional mechanisms to secure such co-operation.In order to carry out the research, the following tasks were set – 1) to analyse of scientific publications in order to identify relevant policy approaches and academic discourse regarding the research topic; 2) to carry out empirical study – expert survey of public administrators and data analysis of the survey results; 3) to analyse the empirical findings against the background of the current policy and academic trends.Research methods: textual and literature analysis were based on study of policy and legal documents, and research articles. The empirical study was based on the survey of opinions and interviews with policy makers, administrators and experts in higher ...

Integration of young people into the labour market is an issue of a high priority. The youth unemployment problem has explicit links to the vocational education and training (VET) system. Since 2009 there is an ongoing reform in the Latvian VET system. In this respect also the role of local governments increases. The paper addresses the issue of introducing innovative approaches in the Latvian VET system. The aim of the study is to estimate the overall readiness of public administrations to implement VET reforms within regional economic development in the context of the EU and national strategic priorities.

Social inclusion and reduction of inequalities is becoming an increasingly topical problem in a range of OECD countries, due to the demographic structure of inhabitants and inequality of income, in many cases depending on labour contribution taking into account skills and competence often lacking for part of population gaining education many years ago. Big share of this part of the population currently is not able to keep the speed of technology development and increase of requirements for digital skills and internet use. The aim of the current research is to investigate possible solutions to address social inclusion by possible involvement in the labour market of different groups at risk – based on provision of digital skills, computer availability, as well as health conditions by regions in Latvia, by age groups, by gender, by employability status. The tasks of the research: analyse recent scientific findings on innovative approaches on involvement of different groups of inhabitants being at poverty risk into labour market and social inclusion, making them feel as valuable and esteemed members of the society; analyse data of several survey results: EU-SILC; Labour Force Survey and Survey on ICT skills for different groups of society in Latvia; analyse tendencies on Internet use in Latvia by gender. Main research methods – analysis of previous conducted research results reflected in scientific publications and policy analysis documents; analysis of data of EU-SILC and Labour Force Surveys as well as survey results on ICT skills on aspects of digitalisation and willingness to be involved in training and improvement of skills to avoid social exclusion and poverty. Findings – different regions have different results in digital literacy, however, implementation of innovative approaches in inhabitants' involvement in labour market help to avoid or diminish social exclusion. ; The research was supported by the NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME "LATVIAN HERITAGE AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE" project "CHALLENGES FOR THE LATVIAN STATE AND SOCIETY AND THE SOLUTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT" (INTERFRAME-LV, Project No.VPP-IZM-2018/1-0005).

Social inclusion and reduction of inequalities is becoming an increasingly topical problem in a range of OECD countries, due to the demographic structure of inhabitants and inequality of income, in many cases depending on labour contribution taking into account skills and competence often lacking for part of population gaining education many years ago. Big share of this part of the population currently is not able to keep the speed of technology development and increase of requirements for digital skills and internet use. The aim of the current research is to investigate possible solutions to address social inclusion by possible involvement in the labour market of different groups at risk – based on provision of digital skills, computer availability, as well as health conditions by regions in Latvia, by age groups, by gender, by employability status. The tasks of the research: analyse recent scientific findings on innovative approaches on involvement of different groups of inhabitants being at poverty risk into labour market and social inclusion, making them feel as valuable and esteemed members of the society; analyse data of several survey results: EU-SILC; Labour Force Survey and Survey on ICT skills for different groups of society in Latvia; analyse tendencies on internet use in Latvia by gender. Main research methods – analysis of previous conducted research results reflected in scientific publications and policy analysis documents; analysis of data of EU-SILC and Labour Force Surveys as well as survey results on ICT skills on aspects of digitalisation and willingness to be involved in training and improvement of skills to avoid social exclusion and poverty. Findings – different regions have different results in digital literacy, however, implementation of innovative approaches in inhabitants' involvement in labour market help to avoid or diminish social exclusion.

Latvia in international comparisons is among the countries with rather low average income for households but rather high differences in income in households, especially in highest income households (richest quintile) characterised with significant indicators of variability in euro zone countries by Household and Consumption Survey conducted buy Bank of Latvia by methodology of European Central Bank in all eurozone countries and according EU- SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) data. This current research is devoted to analysis of development of income and variability of income of households in Latvia in comparison with other OECD countries and eurozone countries. Research methods used: scientific publications and previous conducted research analysis, analysis of Household and Consumption Survey data, EU-SILC data on differences in income depending household size, from regions and from territory (urban/rural), interviews of regional authorities on various income inequality reduction arrangements and applications in regions with lower income level. Data analysis methods: descriptive statistics (indicators of central tendency or location – arithmetic mean and median, indicators of variability – standard deviations, standard error of mean), cross-tabulations of household income by regions, by household size, by territories, testing of statistical hypotheses on differences of arithmetic means by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for significance of income differences by regions and by household size. Results of analysis has indicated that Latvia has significant challenges where several innovative approaches could be applied to find best solutions for income inequality decrease and increase of overall satisfaction with life and support for economic development of the country. ; The research was supported by the NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME "LATVIAN HERITAGE AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE" project "CHALLENGES FOR THE LATVIAN STATE AND SOCIETY AND THE SOLUTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT" (INTERFRAME-LV, Project No.VPP-IZM-2018/1-0005)