EMPLOYMENT MECHANISMS AND INTEGRATION TOOLS FOR GRADUATES IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

The article examines systemic problems related to the employment of university graduates in the Russian Federation in the context of the digital transformation of the economy and the growing gap between the content of educational programs and employers’ requirements. Particular attention is paid to the regional specifics of the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD), which is characterized by a stable trend of graduates being employed outside their field of study. Based on the analysis of statistical data from the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) and the results of an empirical study conducted within the framework of the case championship “Future of the Caucasus,” the key barriers to the professional integration of young specialists were identified: low awareness of career opportunities, a shortage of internships and practical training opportunities, and insufficient institutionalization of interaction between universities and employers. The empirical basis of the study was formed from the results of the district case championship “Socio-Economic Development of the NCFD. Futurological Aspect,” organized by the North Caucasus Federal University, as well as from an online survey of students of the North Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov. The paper substantiates the need to create a unified digital ecosystem for interaction among students, university career centers, and employers. A model of a specialized online platform is proposed, including modules of personalized profiles, a vacancy and internship aggregator, career guidance diagnostics, information support, a rating system, and a digital reputation mechanism based on employer feedback. It is demonstrated that the implementation of the platform can increase employment rates within the field of study, reduce transaction costs in the labor market, and enhance the efficiency of human capital utilization in the region. Prospects for further research are associated with developing criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the platform’s functioning, adapting it to the conditions of different constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and integrating it with state systems for monitoring graduate employment.