application/pdf 279626 bytes 2019 Radivojević, Vladimir Kahrović, Ernad Krstić, Miloš https://phaidrabg.bg.ac.rs/o:29033 doi:10.5937/vojdelo1905105R ISSN: 0042-8426 Abstract: Human capital and population skills are the main drivers of economic growth and national competitiveness in the modern economy. The paper investigates the current state and development potential of selected European countries in the field of population skills competitiveness. Particular attention is paid to this issue in relation to the Balkan countries. The aim is to identify the factors of population skills that are critical for competitiveness of the Balkan countries and which have to be improved in the future. The analysis is based on the data published by the World Economic Forum in „The Global Competitiveness Report 2018“. The research has been done by applying the comparative analysis and benchmarking method. The research findings indicate that the level of population skillscompetitiveness of the Balkan countries lags significantly behind the top European countries. This study contributes to the skills and human capital literature and it could have practical implications in formulating the development policy of population skills in European countries. Keywords: skills, human capital, competitiveness, Balkan countries, European countries http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode info:eu-repo/semantics/article eng VOJNO DELO(5) POPULATION SKILLS AS AN INDICATOR OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES’ COMPETITIVENESS IN THE MODERN ECONOMY