Young specialists in agricultural professions on the labor market of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The relevance of this study stems from the need to ensure the agricultural sector is staffed with competitive professionals who are adapted to the conditions of the modern digital economy. Despite government programs aimed at increasing wages and improving working conditions, there is still a lack of motivation among rural youth to engage in agricultural production. This article examines employment levels by industry, income dynamics - which remain lower than in other sectors, and opportunities to address the shortage of young professionals in the agricultural sector. The main objective of human resources policy is to reduce youth unemployment, enhance the social status of young people, and provide real opportunities for education and employment that match their professional competencies. The goal is to identify the main factors behind the declining number of young workers in rural areas and to propose effective measures for reducing the outflow of young labor and increasing their retention in villages. Methods – analytical and comparative methods were used to justify conclusions about the importance of engaging youth in the agro-industrial complex; mathematical tools were applied for the quantitative assessment of economic indicators, and graphical methods were used to visually present research results. Results – the study analyzes the current state and prospects for the socio-economic development of rural areas and the dynamics of key indicators, explores youth employment programs, identifies the main causes of the shortage of in-demand young rural workers, and proposes effective methods to attract young specialists. Conclusions – the authors emphasize the necessity of innovative transformations in rural areas and the development of new training programs for qualified personnel in the agro-industrial sector who possess knowledge of innovative agricultural production technologies, taking into account international experience.