FLEXIBLE EMPLOYMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING: LEGAL RESPONSES TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE TIME

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of flexible forms of employment on the
realization of the right to lifelong learning in the context of the transformation of the labor market in
Ukraine, driven by digitalization, globalization processes, and socio-economic challenges of wartime.
Particular attention is paid to such forms of employment as remote work, freelancing, project-based
work, and platform labor, which are rapidly spreading and reshaping traditional understandings of
labor relations.
It is substantiated that these forms of employment, on the one hand, create new opportunities for
combining professional activity with education, promote the individualization of educational trajectories,
and enhance labor mobility; on the other hand, they are accompanied by increased employment
instability, reduced social guarantees, and limited access to institutionalized forms of vocational training.
It is proven that workers engaged in flexible forms of employment often remain outside traditional
mechanisms for financing and organizing professional development, which negatively affects their
competitiveness in the labor market.
It is established that the current labor and educational legislation of Ukraine is primarily oriented
toward a classical model of employment characterized by stable labor relations and a clearly defined
employer, and therefore does not ensure adequate legal regulation of access to lifelong learning for
adults engaged in non-standard forms of employment. The gaps in the regulatory framework concerning
the guarantee of the right to education for self-employed persons, freelancers, and platform
workers are analyzed.
The article concludes that there is a need for a systemic approach to the legislative regulation of
flexible employment, harmonization of labor and educational law, and the introduction of effective
legal mechanisms to promote adult learning. It is emphasized that the implementation of such changes
is a key prerequisite for ensuring the professional adaptability of workers, enhancing their competitiveness,
and supporting the sustainable recovery of Ukraine’s economy.