In the first quarter of 2025 Kazakhstan’s labor market remained relatively stable. The employment rate among adults stood at 64.4%, and the unemployment rate—according to ILO methodology—was 4.6%. While these figures may suggest a healthy labor market, a deeper look reveals structural imbalances and lingering vulnerabilities.
As noted by an expert from EconomyKZ.org, the headline numbers paint only part of the picture. Beneath the surface lie issues like a growing number of informally employed workers, limited opportunities for youth, and a significant portion of the population disengaged from the labor force altogether.
9.3 Million Employed: Who Works Where?
As of Q1 2025 9.3 million people in Kazakhstan were employed:
• 76.9% were wage employees (7.1 million people)
• 23.1% were self-employed (2.2 million people)
Employment is highly concentrated in four sectors:
1. Trade – 17%
2. Education – 13.4%
3. Industry – 12.5%
4. Agriculture – 10.3%
This breakdown reflects the economy’s continued reliance on traditional service sectors. Industrial and export-driven sectors remain relatively underdeveloped, despite government initiatives aimed at diversification.
Working Hours: How Long Do People Work?
Average weekly working hours also vary by employment type:
• General average – 39 hours/week
• Wage employees – 41 hours/week
• Self-employed – 36 hours/week
These numbers suggest that formal wage employment involves longer hours and perhaps more job stability, while the self-employed often have more flexible arrangements.
Unemployment: Declining, But Uneven
Kazakhstan recorded 451,500 unemployed individuals in Q1 2025—equivalent to 4.6% of the labor force, down 0.1 percentage points from the same period last year.
Among youth aged 15–34, unemployment stood at 3.1%. However, only 323,700 people were officially registered as unemployed with government job centers, making up just 3.3% of the labor force. This gap highlights limited public trust in employment services and the need to improve support mechanisms.
Conclusion: Solid Numbers, Fragile System
Kazakhstan’s labor market may look steady on paper, but that stability masks several long-term issues:
• Heavy reliance on low-productivity sectors
• Insufficient re-skilling and training
• Youth at risk of economic marginalization
• A large and growing population outside the workforce
To ensure resilience, policy must go beyond headline employment figures and focus on building a more inclusive, adaptive labor market.
Prepared by: Lina Yegil kizi, expert of the EconomyKZ.org portal
