Abstract
The relevance of this study stems from the need to minimize employers' costs associated with the professional adaptation of young specialists – university graduates. In the context of rapid technological development and changes in the labor market, businesses expect graduates to have not only specialized training but also the ability to quickly integrate into work processes. In practice, however, employers are faced with a shortage of skills among new employees, such as business communication, self-organization, and the practical application of knowledge, which increases the cost of training them for their positions. This study analyzes the expectations of regional employers in the Karaganda region regarding the key professional and universal competencies of graduates. The aim is to identify the content of business personnel requirements and determine the main difficulties that arise in ensuring the correspondence between academic training and the requirements of the modern economy. The analysis was conducted using a qualitative content analysis tool – MAXQDA software – which made it possible to systematize and visualize data on key competency categories. The paper also presents a SWOT analysis of the regional training system, based on which practical recommendations are made for adapting educational programs to the demands of the economy.