The effective cooperation between education institutions and industry is essential for improving graduate employability and addressing current labour market demands. This paper presents the results of a salary and skills benchmarking study focused on selected technical and administrative job positions in industrial enterprises in Slovakia. The job positions included every level of management in the company - the lowest level (production operator), the middle level (senior accountant), and the highest level (project manager). The research analyses salary levels, required professional skills, and personal attributes expected by employers, based on real job offers from enterprises operating in the manufacturing sector. The findings reveal significant insights into salary structures, skill requirements, and the soft skills most valued by employers, such as adaptability, technical literacy, or teamwork abilities. The results highlight the existing gaps between graduate profiles and industry expectations, underlining the need for closer education institutions-industry collaboration, practical learning opportunities, and curriculum adjustments. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on improving workforce readiness, enhancing education institutions-industry partnerships, and fostering employability through targeted educational strategies.

Keywords: Benchmarking, education, employers, industry, salary, skills.