Agricultural education: modern approaches to human resource development in the agro-industrial complex

Agricultural education plays a vital role in staffing the agro-industrial complex (AIC) and is a priority area of the state's agricultural policy. The goal is to identify the main issues in agricultural university training and the recruitment and renewal of qualified personnel, outline possible solutions, and analyze employment indicators and the demand for agricultural professions. Methods – analysis and synthesis, absolute and relative criteria, abstract-logical and economic-statistical methods were applied to examine employment rates, the number of working youth, and average monthly wages by economic activity in recent years. The empirical basis of the study includes data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020–2024. Results – the study presents the dynamics of employment across the country and specifically in the agricultural sector, and identifies the growing need for highly qualified agricultural professionals. Preparing such personnel requires a practical training base with modern material and technical support, enabling students to master cutting-edge technologies and equipment. Conclusions – although significant efforts have been made in Kazakhstan to encourage prospective students to pursue agricultural education, the issue remains pressing and widely debated. One of the main reasons cited by youth for the low appeal of agricultural professions is low income, which affects quality of life. The authors note that for successful innovative development of the agro-industrial sector, graduates of agricultural institutions must acquire the necessary knowledge, competencies, and research skills during their education. This is essential for achieving positive results in agriculture, advancing Kazakhstan’s agro-economy to the global level, and increasing the country’s influence in the world food market.