Graduates in the labour market: what are employers’ expectations?

Abstract

This article presents some results of the survey conducted within the research project “Integration of Kazakhstan into the European higher educational area: the implementation of the Bologna Process parameters” within the grant funding for research on 2015-2017 MES RK. One of the main prerequisites is based on the reference to a range of issues concerning the employers’ opinions on what makes graduates of Kazakh universities employable? Sociological research, supplemented by conducting in-depth interviews with employers gives an overview of the main trends in the Kazakhstan labor market; about the key characteristics, which from the point of view of employers are required for successful employment; the role to be played by universities in the development of professional competencies of their graduates. According to the Information and Analytical Center, analysis of the number of students taken to universities in Kazakhstan in 2010 and graduated in 2014 revealed a 75% employment rate [1]. This percentage is confirmed by the data of SCPP. Among the holders of educational grants, the share of employed graduates is 84%. Among the graduates of 2014, employed according to the specialty of the total number of employed graduates, the majority is employed in health and social services, financial and insurance activities, engineering spheres. Lowest rate of employment is among graduates with economic and law degree [2]. Sociological analysis of the employment of graduates in the professional labor market opens up new opportunities and perspectives in the study: between demand and supply in the labor market; between accumulated knowledge and formed professional skills are becoming increasingly important for employment. The starting point of the research is also that vocational skills are necessary, but in a competitive environment employers are expanding requirements for candidates, including a system of personal and social qualities required for graduates.

Key words: employment, graduates, professional competencies, skills, professional career, university.