Analysis of the relationship between the level of qualification of workers in production and profit indicators: an economic rationale for investing in personnel training

The relevance of the study of the relationship between the level of qualification of workers in the agro-industrial sector and the financial performance of enterprises is due to the need to improve the efficiency of investments in human capital. The purpose of the work is to identify the degree of influence of educational programs on the profitability of agribusiness in order to substantiate the economic feasibility of investments in personnel training. The research methodology includes a regression analysis of panel data for 150 agribusinesses for 2015–2022, supplemented by a case study of 30 industry leaders. It was found that an increase in the share of employees with specialized higher education by 1% is associated with an increase in profitability by 0.8% (p < 0.01). An increase in the average number of training hours per employee per year by 10% correlates with a 1.5% increase in profits (p < 0.05). Detailed results confirm a statistically and economically significant return on investment in human capital in the agricultural sector.