A map of personnel needs will be developed in the Abay region

Today a foresight session was held at Shakarim University dedicated to the development of a regional map of personnel needs of the Abay region. This important event was organized in pursuance of the order of the Head of State “Development of an atlas of new professions and skills”, as well as within the framework of the announced “Year of Blue-collar Professions”. The main goal of the meeting is to determine the real needs of the regional labor market and adapt the personnel training system to new economic requirements.

During the event, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek noted that the creation of an effective professional training system is one of the key priorities of state policy.

“President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address identified the development of human capital, modernization of the education system and strengthening the practical orientation of vocational training as the main tasks. In this regard, 2025 has been declared the “Year of Blue-Collar Professions.” This emphasizes the importance of personnel policy for the sustainable development of the country’s economy,” the minister said.

He also added that since 2022, as part of the “My Profession – My Future” project, nine regional maps have been developed, covering 24 industries and sub-sectors of the economy, more than 100 thousand students have undergone professional diagnostics, and 290 educational programs have been updated. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring a balance between the education system and the needs of the labor market.

Vice-Rector for Strategy and Social Development of Shakarim University Askar Kasymov said that the country has already prepared atlases of new professions in nine regions. According to him, in the era of digitalization, all specialties are undergoing changes and require new competencies:

“We are starting to develop a map of new professions in demand in the region. The personnel training system must keep up with the times,” he emphasized.

At the meeting, the head of the technical and vocational education department of the Abay regional education department, Vilena Zhakupbaeva, emphasized the importance of developing a regional map of personnel needs. According to her, this tool will allow educational organizations to identify new areas of training and clearly identify the needs of employers.

The head of the office “My profession is my future” of the National Center for the Development of Higher Education, Olzhas Sakenov, spoke in detail about the goals and objectives of the project. The development of an atlas of new professions and competencies, according to him, is aimed at reducing economic imbalances between regions, increasing the availability of information about the labor market and the education system, as well as increasing labor productivity and incomes.

Session participants discussed key trends, risks and opportunities in the main sectors of the economy of the Abay region. New and transforming professions in demand in the region were identified, and proposals for personnel policy for the future were formed.

The foresight session has become an important platform, setting a new direction in the training of future specialists and providing an additional impetus to the development of the regional labor market. Based on the results of the event, an accurate regional map of personnel needs of the Abay region will be prepared. This document will become a scientific and analytical basis for strategic planning of the socio-economic development of the region, will strengthen interaction between educational organizations, enterprises and government agencies.