Human capital within the system of regional social and labor potential formation: methodological foundations of research under digital and war challenges

Abstract

The article substantiates the theoretical and methodological foundations for researching human capital within the system of forming the social and labor potential of the region (SLPR) and identifies priority directions for its preservation under digital and war challenges. The essence of SLPR is revealed as a complex sociodynamic system acting as an institutional foundation for the reproduction and practical realization of the population's professional capabilities. It is established that human capital within this system serves as a qualitative basis and a realized asset, the economic return on which directly depends on the state of the regional environment. It is proved that under the simultaneous pressure of technological progress and military threats, classical approaches to potential management require revision in favor of models for the formation of adaptive human capital.
The SLPR is structured according to the subject-resource block and the regional determination block, which allowed for identifying the critical importance of intellectual-innovative and psychophysiological components in ensuring the resilience of territories. It is revealed that digitalization and security restrictions of martial law lead to the transformation of individual professional profiles, bringing to the forefront digital flexibility, stress resistance, and the capacity for continuous cognitive renewal. It is determined that the threats of mass youth migration and "brain drain" require the implementation of an "intellectual retention" methodology through the capitalization of specialists' knowledge directly within local labor markets.
Strategic directions for the preservation and development of SLPR are proposed, including the development of flexible educational ecosystems based on the "university – community – business" model, the creation of a network of municipal digital hubs, and the implementation of psychological resilience programs. Special attention is paid to the professional adaptation of internally displaced persons and veterans as a factor in strengthening the labor potential of communities. It is determined that the implementation of the proposed approach allows for transforming resource expenditures into strategic investments in SLPR, which are converted into real economic value and the competitive immunity of regions. This will ensure the stability of regional economic systems and become a decisive factor in the post-war recovery of Ukraine based on innovative development and the capitalization of the intellectual achievements of the population.