The main provisions of the new monograph ”Reproduction of intellectual labor specialists: a sociological analysis“ are discussed. In reflections and critical analysis, its fundamentality is substantiated, some features are revealed, in particular, the solution of not only theoretical issues, but also problems on the applied level. There is a wealth of empirical material, including the authors’ 2021 study (a survey of young specialists, an expert survey). The following issues are discussed: career guidance, interaction between universities and employers, youth unemployment, the role of the state in the system of personnel reproduction. It is concluded that the solution of the problem of intellectual labor specialists reproduction today is entrusted only to the higher education system, while this requires the cooperation of efforts of all key institutions of society.