ESSENCE AND CONTENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONCEPT “EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL OF THE ENTERPRISE”

The article examines the list of the latest scientific sources devoted directly to the definition of the economic category “labor potential of the enterprise”. Their analysis allowed us to note that in their works scientists and scholars rationalize the need to clarify the essence of the concept “labor potential of the enterprise”, especially given the transformations and constantly emerging new requirements in the modern market environment of enterprises. At the same time, there is a lack of unity of their views on the revealing of the meaning of this term, and their variety is very diverse. The existing developments of scientists to establish the essence of the economic category “labor potential of the enterprise” really need further consideration and refinement. The main purpose of the article is to provide an essence and content characteristic and to formulate a definition of “labor potential of the enterprise” on the basis of isolation and systematization of its key (essential) features.   As a result of a comprehensive analysis of the studied existing interpretations of the essence of labor potential of the enterprise, their list is systematized into four main approaches to the specification of the semantic basis of this term. On the ground of the application of basic logical methods of concept generation (analysis, synthesis, comparison, abstraction, generalization), the essential features of this term are identified in terms of content of actions and essential certainty: a set of existing and potential capabilities and abilities of employees; self-realization, effective use, increase and development of opportunities for employees in employment; promoting the achievement of strategic goals of enterprise development. To formulate the definition of “labor potential of the enterprise” the following is suggested: first, a combination of the above three essential features of the labor potential of the enterprise; second, the inclusion of a sign of the possibility of manifestation in the latest changing conditions of the socio-economic environment of enterprises; third, grounding at the same time on the interpretation of the basic concept of “potential”; fourth, taking into account the peculiarities of the four main approaches to the specification of the semantic basis of the term. Based on the above provisions, the essence of the labor potential of the enterprise is formulated, whose difference from the existing ones is a comprehensive consideration of its essential features in terms of essential definition and content of actions, as well as taking into account the possibility of manifestation in the latest changing socio-economic environment.