THE IMPACT OF LEARNERS' SOFT SKILLS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SOCIAL ADAPTATION AND CAREER SUCCESS

The modern labor market requires graduates to possess not only professional knowledge and technical competencies but also soft skills such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. These skills play a significant role in academic achievement, social adaptation, and career success, making them a priority in the strategic development of education systems. However, in the context of Kazakhstan, there is a lack of empirical research identifying the specific links between soft skills and labor market success. This study aimed to determine the impact of soft skills on academic performance (GPA), social adaptation, and career success among graduates of higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, as well as to identify the key factors predicting income levels. The study involved 80 graduates. Data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire based on a 10-point Likert scale, which measured five core soft skills components (communication, teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence), along with GPA, social adaptation, employment status, and income level. Data analysis was performed in Jamovi using Pearson and Spearman correlations and multiple linear regression. Correlation analysis revealed weak and statistically insignificant relationships between soft skills components and GPA or social adaptation (p > 0.05). In contrast, statistically significant positive correlations were found between income level, employment status, and soft skills (r = 0.706, p < 0.001). Multiple regression results showed that the model explained 55.1% of the variance in income level (R² = 0.551). The main predictors of career success were employment status (p < 0.001) and critical thinking skills (p = 0.024). These findings highlight the need for higher education institutions to integrate soft skills training—particularly those fostering strategic and analytical thinking—into curricula alongside professional education to better prepare graduates for labor market success. This research has been/was/is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. BR28713097).