Аннотация
This article analyzes the ideas and scientific conclusions of both classical and contemporarysociologists regarding the professional choice motivations of high school students. Since gainingindependence, Kazakhstan's higher education system has undergone significant qualitative andquantitative transformations. This shapes new reference points for young people and directlyinfluence the motivations behind high school students’ career choices. In a context where vocationaleducation serves not only as a means of achieving personal goals but also as a tool for social mobilityand economic stability, motivational factors – such as interest in the profession, career growthprospects, social relevance, and family influence – gain particular importance in the process of students' professional self-determination. The article presents the results of a survey conducted in 2023 across all regions of Kazakhstan, including major cities such as Astana, Almaty, Shymkent,Semey, and Pavlodar. The sample for the study included high school students from the 9th and 11thgrades, totaling 1,156 respondents. The sample covers urban and rural students, private (paid) andpublic schools, as well as general education and specialized schools. The purpose of the study was toanalyze the classification of motivations for choosing a profession and to conduct a comparativeanalysis of the professional choice motivations of high school students across different fields of study.During the research, the motivations guiding high school students in their choice of professionwere grouped into five categories: 1) "interest-oriented," 2) "career-oriented," 3) "social status-oriented," 4) "family-oriented," and 5) "accessibility-oriented." The influence and impact of thesefactors were individually analyzed for students planning to pursue careers in the humanities,medicine, technical fields, economics, and military professions, with distinct characteristics identifiedfor each group.