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Skill Shortage versus Subject Choice: Case of Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Atiq-Ur-Rehman

    (IIIE, International Islamic University, Islamabad)

  • Hafsa Anis

    (National Institute of Computer Science and Technology, Muzaffarabad)

  • Saud Ahmed Khan

    (Lecture, IESE, NUST, Islamabad and PhD Scholar (Econometrics), IIIE, International Islamic University, Islamabad)

Abstract

Higher Education is believed to be a very important determinant of economic growth. The growth can be optimised with a suitable combination of skills in various subjects. A mismatch between required combination of skills and available combination of skills carries heavy costs for developing economies since import of skill from foreign is much more in expensive for such economies. We compare skill shortage in Pakistan with the subjects choice of students recently enrolled in institutes of higher learning. We found that there is a mismatch between skill shortage and the enrolment trend. We propose that the Government should regulate recruitment of students into various subjects in order to create greater harmony between national needs and students enrolment.

Suggested Citation

  • Atiq-Ur-Rehman & Hafsa Anis & Saud Ahmed Khan, 2009. "Skill Shortage versus Subject Choice: Case of Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 48(4), pages 487-496.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:48:y:2009:i:4:p:487-496
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yeo Khee Yong & Toh Mun Heng & Shandre Mugan Thangavelu & James Wong, 2007. "Premium on Fields of Study: The Returns to Higher Education in Singapore," SCAPE Policy Research Working Paper Series 0703, National University of Singapore, Department of Economics, SCAPE.
    2. Richard H. Mattoon, 2006. "Higher education and economic growth," Chicago Fed Letter, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, issue Jan.
    3. Kelly, Elish & O'Connell, Philip J. & Smyth, Emer, 2010. "The economic returns to field of study and competencies among higher education graduates in Ireland," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 650-657, August.
    4. Yeo Khee Yong & Toh Mun Heng & Shandre Mugan Thangavelu & James Wong, 2007. "Premium on Fields of Study : The Returns to Higher Education in Singapore," Microeconomics Working Papers 21921, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Jamil & Ahmed Imran Hunjra & Babar Khalid, 2014. "Important Factors of Human Resource Development in Pakistan," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 3(1), pages 1-12, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subject Choice; Skill Shortage; National Needs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J82 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Labor Force Composition

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