The impact of higher education on youth employability in Kosovo: Key determinants affecting the interface between higher education provision and labor market needs

<ns3:p> Objectives This study aims to assess the impact of higher education on graduates’ perceived employability of young people through dimensions such as study programs in higher education (SPH), collaboration between the universities and businesses (CUB), teaching quality (TQ), flexibility of academic programs (FAP), and higher education infrastructure and resources (HEIR) by identifying factors that influence the interplay between the higher education provision and the demands of the labor market. In addition, differences in employability depending on the ownership of the higher education institution and the characteristics of the graduate profile and field of study are also analyzed. Methods To achieve the research objectives, a quantitative method was used through a structured questionnaire, where 300 persons who have graduated in academic years 2019/20 – 2023/24 were surveyed. Findings The results show a significant positive relationship between higher education and employability (R <ns3:sup>2</ns3:sup> = 0.367, p < 0.001), with labor market demands and program flexibility as the strongest predictors. Private institutions performed better in all dimensions, with the biggest difference displayed in infrastructure. The field of study also had a significant impact, with graduates in engineering and information technology fields showing the highest levels of employability. Novelty/improvement This research aims to inform social partners about the ways to fill the gap between the supply of higher education and the needs of the labor market both at home and abroad through sustainable mechanisms, which would guide the provision of study programs. </ns3:p>