Strategies for the employment of graduates in the labor market (based on the survey materials of Korkyt ata KSU, Kazakhstan)

Abstract

Socio-economic and socio-cultural changes in society lead to significant changes in the social struc- ture of society, in the institute of education. The employment of university graduates, in general, acquires the features of a new social process after the refusal of compulsory employment. The recognized social fact has led to the emergence of new statuses (for example, mixed), where university graduates, unemployed or not working in their specialty are often found. The interest of many sociologists in this problem is associated with changes in the work of social institutions, including the Institute of Education. The purpose of the study: to determine the employment strategy of graduates of Kazakhstani universi- ties in the context of regional specifics. This research on this issue is based on the importance of such concepts as contradictions between qualification programs, teaching methods, graduate competencies and employers’ requirements for these competencies and qualifications; inconsistency of the theory and practice being studied; definition and justification of the main strategies for the employment of university graduates. To achieve the goal, the researchers used descriptive data analysis and a quantitative approach as the main means of collecting research data. The study was applied to a sample of 130 heads of organizations. Based on a comparative analysis, the above problems and shortcomings in the professional training of graduates of Kazakhstani universities have been identified and analyzed. In the course of the study, the authors identified market, paternalistic and traditional strategies among gradu- ates in accordance with the specifics of the labor market. The scientific results obtained on the basis of theoretical and empirical research can be used by scientists studying the problems of employment and unemployment, graduate employment strategies, organizations engaged in youth employment, career centers in higher education institutions, employment centers at the state and regional levels.

Key words: university graduates, employers, labor strategies, labor market regulation, quality of education.