In recent years, the economic downturn and sluggish performance in the real estate and construction sectors have led some college students, particularly those majoring in engineering management, to question their employment prospects. To provide career guidance for current engineering management students, this study examines graduates from Chongqing Technology and Business University (CTBU)’s engineering management program along with employers in the Chongqing-Sichuan region. The research conducts an in-depth analysis of both the employment outcomes of these graduates (2007–2024) and current industry talent demands. Using statistical software to process survey data, the survey adopts a dual perspective: evaluating graduate competencies while assessing employer requirements. The findings offer career guidance recommendations for current engineering management students, helping them develop profession-specific competencies and enhance core competitiveness in the job market. Additionally, the research provides insights that can assist real estate and construction firms in refining their hiring strategies, addressing recruitment challenges, fostering deeper university-industry collaboration and business-education integration, and creating mutually beneficial outcomes for both academic institutions and enterprises.