Kazakhstan’s rapid digital transformation has intensified the demand for digital skills, yet the country’s education system continues to lag behind evolving labor market requirements, resulting in persistent vertical and horizontal mismatches. This study addresses the gap by developing a conceptual model to evaluate the alignment between educational outputs and employer needs across qualification levels, fields of study, and digital competencies. The model draws on national education supply data, labor demand trends, and feedback mechanisms, including public–private partnerships and lifelong learning initiatives. Its application reveals substantial skill mismatches in both technical and non-technical disciplines, with particularly acute gaps in ICT-related and hybrid digital roles, as well as marked regional disparities. The findings suggest that incorporating employer feedback and promoting curriculum adaptability are critical to reducing these mismatches. The study concludes that strategic reforms such as embedding digital competencies into formal education, strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration, and tailoring educational approaches to regional labor market dynamics are essential for closing the skills gap. This research offers a practical framework for diagnosing systemic misalignment and supports evidence-based policymaking aimed at developing a workforce prepared for the demands of a digital economy.

This study examines the structural transformation of Kazakhstan’s labor market in the context of accelerated digitalization and post-pandemic recovery. Situated within the broader discourse on labor adaptability in emerging economies, this study addresses how digital and institutional shifts are reshaping employment patterns, sectoral composition, and workforce dynamics. Using panel data analysis, regression models, and cluster techniques, this study evaluates the impact of digital infrastructure, sectoral specialization, educational investment, and demographic trends on labor productivity, formal employment, and unemployment. Empirical findings highlight a growing divergence between regions, with digitally advanced urban centers outperforming agrarian and resource-dependent areas in employment growth and labor efficiency. The study results also reveal that youth unemployment and the segment of young people Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) remain structurally embedded challenges, characterized by significant gender-based and regional disparities. Furthermore, the informal sector persists as an adaptive buffer, especially during periods of economic uncertainty, but continues to limit social protection coverage. This study concludes that Kazakhstan’s labor market is undergoing a transition from an industrial resource model to a service- and knowledge-based configuration. Effective policy responses should focus on enhancing digital inclusion, promoting flexible employment models, and targeting youth labor integration. These insights provide a basis for designing regionally differentiated labor strategies aligned with long-term economic modernization.

The link between the education system and the labor market plays an important role in the creation of human capital, which is the basis for economic growth and sustainable social development. The effective interaction of these sectors ensures the training of personnel capable of meeting the needs of the modern market, which increases the competitiveness of the economy and improves the quality of life of people. The example of Germany in the development of dual education is considered, the effectiveness of which is also confirmed by the successful experience of implementing dual system in vocational education in such European countries as Austria, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Romania. An important condition for the development of a successful university and increasing its competitiveness is to improve the mechanisms of interaction between higher education and business. This includes training students in accordance with the current needs of the labor market, as well as active participation of educational institutions in innovative and successful integration associations. It is important that universities adapt their educational programs to changing conditions and market trends so that graduates have the skills and knowledge needed in today’s environment. In order to strengthen the relationship between business and higher education, close interaction between local authorities, business and educational institutions is necessary. Keywords: higher education, labor market, forms of interaction, employment, dual training, educational programs.

В статье рассматриваются региональные аспекты развития предпринимательства в Казахстане в контексте перехода к зеленой экономике. Анализируются территориальные различия в предпринимательской активности, выявляются ключевые проблемы, препятствующие развитию зеленого предпринимательства в разных регионах, и оцениваются модели занятости в зеленых секторах. На основе статистических данных и регионального анализа обосновывается необходимость дифференцированных мер политики, направленных на стимулирование устойчивых и экологически ориентированных деловых практик. Результаты подчеркивают важность региональных подходов к поддержке предпринимательства, финансированию зеленых инноваций и развитию человеческого капитала для обеспечения устойчивого регионального роста. Проанализированы ключевые проблемы и ограничения, сдерживающие развитие предпринимательской деятельности в регионах, а также обоснованы направления их преодоления на основе принципов устойчивого развития. Сделан вывод о необходимости дифференцированного регионального подхода к поддержке зелёного предпринимательства, включающего меры по развитию инфраструктуры, внедрению экологически чистых технологий, повышению компетенций предпринимателей и стимулированию инвестиционной активности, что позволит повысить конкурентоспособность регионов и ускорить переход к устойчивой экономике. Особое внимание уделено формированию благоприятной институциональной среды и развитию механизмов государственно частного партнерства. Подчеркивается, что успешная реализация этих мер требует координации между органами власти, бизнес сообществом, что создаст основу для долгосрочной экономической и экологической устойчивости страны. Ключевые слова: предпринимательство, региональное развитие, зелёная экономика, устойчивое развитие, Казахстан.

This article presents the results of studies of the influence of demographic and economic factors on the pension system of Kazakhstan. At the same time, the main trends and problems of development of the national pension system are considered, and an analysis of its financial stability and social justice provided by it is conducted. To analyze the demographic and economic factors influencing the domestic pension system, the methods of comparative, correlation-regression analysis, as well as the modeling method are used. To implement these methods, computer programs Microsoft Excel, SPSS and AnyLogic were used. The article analyzes the influence of demographic and economic factors on the pension system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In addition, the results of modeling and forecasting of pension payments in Kazakhstan under various scenarios of development of the demographic and economic situation are presented. Based on the data obtained, the corresponding benchmarks were determined and practical recommendations were formulated. The results of the studies are characterized by a certain scientific and practical significance, contribute to the expansion of knowledge about the domestic pension system. They contain useful information for the development of appropriate strategies and measures to improve pension provision in Kazakhstan, taking into account the best international experience. Keywords: pension system, demographic factors, development trends, forecasting, development scenarios, financial stability, social justice.

The article examines the economic potential of nuclear tourism at the Semipalatinsk Test Site, a new and still underexplored form of tourism. The study provides a comprehensive assessment of demand and economic efficiency by estimating revenues using data from the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, the National Nuclear Center, the Mayak Hotel and private guides. It employs statistical, descriptive, quantitative and qualitative analysis, field research, expert interviews and sociological surveys. The results show that, from 2022 through the first half of 2025, nuclear tourism demonstrates stable demand and substantial notional income, while facing infrastructure constraints (an obsolete hotel stock, a lack of a dedicated STS museum) and a high share of informal services. Surveys of respondents from Kazakhstan and Russia confirm their interest in visiting the STS and the high attractiveness of nuclear tourism. The authors formulate recommendations on creating a registry of tourist sites, expanding hotel capacity, establishing an STS Museum and introducing regulatory frameworks for atomic tourism.