National competitiveness is sufficiently defined by the competitiveness of its regions, companies and firms located there, as well as by dominating quality of regional human resources. However, despite the major theoretical researches, human resource competitiveness, especially the regional one, is among the least studied issues. The aim of this study is to shape the Ukrainian regional structuring methodology, based on evaluation of human resource competitiveness and dealing with two tasks – defining the competitive pros of the region and further regional clustering. Initially the author’s indexes system was introduced to define the Ukrainian regions’ human resource competitiveness. Those indexes were grouped upon seven types of human resource potentials (the social-demographic; educational and professional; motivational; intellectual; innovational and creational; cultural; spiritually-informational indexes). The stated indexes are in turn integral elements (sub-indexes) for the united integral competitive index. The Ukrainian regional indexes calculations are made using general statistics data. The regional competitiveness based on the index system allowed certain level of regional structuring, however proved unable to define certain factors influencing the competitive level, as well as inefficient in monitoring the various-vectored regional development. Hence, there is a problem of regional clustering using all available indexes, i.e. their structuring based on the regional common indexes within the groups, as well as defining differences between groups. To deal with this task, the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) methods were used. The complex indexes’ analysis allowed two outline two basic latent factors. The first one is interpreted as an environmental ability to shape, develop and introduce human resource potential, directly and synergistically formed by the region, and which in fact are the basis for regional human resource achievements. It reflects the region’s general intellectual, artistic and cultural influence (within “low” and “high” levels) on its human resource. High levels of the component prove the regional potential to be significant; the low ones reflect its lack of potential. The second basic factor, defined here as an individual activity in terms of favorable and unfavorable environment, is tied to realization of own potential during the whole life period. It deals with potential, given by the region, and with what certain individual can get out of that potential. Based on the stated above and using the hierarchical clustering, the Ukrainian regions were divided into 5 clusters with common features. Cluster 1 is characterized by extremely low level of both regional potential and public activity to realize its potential. Cluster 2 is characterized by low potential level of the regions, but also with high public activity to realize its potential. Cluster 3 shows high levels of regional potential and higher than average public activity. Cluster 4 unites regions with high spiritually-informational, intellectual, innovational and creational potential, as well as with low public activity level. Cluster 5 is characterized by both regional potential and public activity close to nation-wide average. The complete clustering enables to outline scenarios of development in each cluster, as well as to propose certain measures to ensure competitiveness of human resources and the regions considering their cluster characteristics. 

regions of Ukraine, human resource, regional human resource competitiveness, human resource main components, regional clustering 

The conducted expert poll suggests that such general trends of modern migration processes as globalization, acceleration and differentiation will further define the migration policies of European countries. European countries and Ukraine, while permitting migrants entrance from the whole world, are forced to create strategies considering not only consequences, but also the reasons of migration, harmonizing its own economic and demographic interests with economic and socio-cultural traditions of the countries of origin. Considering nowadays and further perspectives the restriction measures such as sanctioning and administering were less appreciated by experts, while the core of the general strategies defined by Ukrainian and Polish experts is based upon the development of migration legislation, transnational regulations, international treaties and professional branch priorities for international labors. 

international labor migration, state migration policy, expert poll