Labor market and development of “silver” education in the region: positions of authorities and employers[Рынок Труда И Развитие «Серебряного» Образования В Регионе: Позиции Органов Власти И Работодателей]

The article deals with the problem of the relationship between the labor market and the “silver” education of the social community of people of the “third age”. The article shows the relevance of this problem in the context of pension reform and the crisis development of the region caused by the pandemic and global economic shocks. The purpose of the article is to analyze the problems, trends and opportunities for the development of the “silver” education system in the Sverdlovsk region in its relationship with the regional labor market. As a starting point, the assessments of this problem and ways to solve it by representatives of authorities and employers were taken. The empirical basis of the article is the results of a sociological study conducted by the authors in 2019–2020 in the Sverdlovsk region using a mix strategy. The article reveals the main results of the study. The article describes the current status of the “silver” labor market in the region. The main provisions of the public policy in the interests of older people are revealed. Its reactive nature, which contributes little to the development of both the “silver” labor market and the “silver” education, is argued. The article shows the contradictory attitude of employers to age-related employees and their training practices. The conditions for intensive involvement of employers in solving the problems of “silver” education in the region are revealed. The authors conclude that the region has not yet created the basis for the development of “silver” education, which could become an element of the system of continuing education in the Sverdlovsk region. Another conclusion is that the population of the “third age” in the conditions of a deep economic crisis, reinforced by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, may find itself in a very contradictory state – to become either an active labor and social resource, or to become a heavy burden for society. Government and business representatives should make a significant contribution to this issue, expanding the labor market for the older generation and creating new opportunities for the development of “silver” education.