Kazakhstan's Ministry of Labor predicts a labor shortage of 3 million professionals in the economy.
Kazakhstan Announces Comprehensive Strategy to Address Labor Shortages and Adapt to Digital Transformation
The Kazakhstan government has unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at addressing the demand for approximately 3 million specialists across various sectors and adapting to digitization and demographic changes.
The strategies, which are being rolled out or planned for implementation primarily between 2025 and 2027, reflect a comprehensive approach to workforce shortages, demographic shifts, and digital transformation. The goal is to create sustainable employment and economic growth in Kazakhstan.
Education & Skills Development
One key area of focus is the development of technical and vocational education (TVET) aligned with labour market demands. This ensures that graduates have skills relevant to current and future job markets. Additionally, AI platforms will be implemented to identify skills gaps across enterprises and match individuals to relevant jobs or training.
Labor Mobility & Regional Focus
The government is also implementing measures to stimulate internal labor mobility. This includes building infrastructure, offering relocation incentives, and introducing new motivational mechanisms to attract workers to regions with labor shortages.
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation of the labor market is being led by the Ministry of Digital Development. This involves creating a unified digital platform to consolidate data from government and businesses for real-time monitoring of job creation and the effectiveness of employment measures.
Migration & Demographic Policy
Reforming migration and demographic policies is another key aspect of the strategy. This includes enhanced control of illegal employment, protection of foreign workers' rights, review and expansion of migration quotas, development of regional settlement programs for labor-deficient areas, and ethnic repatriation efforts via digital platforms like “Kandas”.
Investment & Employment Link
Linking investment to job creation obligations is another measure being implemented. This requires investors (domestic and foreign) to allocate at least 30% of their investment budgets to wages and monitor employment performance via an Innovative Project Navigator system.
Governance & Oversight
Performance-based evaluation of regional leaders and the integration of employment plans with state programs for 2025–2027 are also key aspects of the strategy. Local leaders will be held accountable for recruitment and job creation targets.
Social Support & Inclusion
Short-term professional training programs, especially targeting vulnerable groups such as youth without formal education, unemployed graduates, and people with disabilities, will be implemented. These programs will include guaranteed job placement and regional relocation grants to balance labor supply.
Response to Labor Market Trends
The strategies align with the demands of the evolving labor market, including digitalization, automation, platform employment, and the entry of approximately 360,000 young people annually into the labor market until 2035. This requires enhanced digital skills and new forms of employment.
Implementation
Electronic labor contracts and staffing schedules are being introduced to enhance transparency and efficiency in the labor market. The modernization of the education system is a focus, with the goal of developing in-demand professional skills in graduates.
The measures align with the directions given by the head of state. Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askar Biakhmetov emphasized the importance of considering these data when approving professional standards, developing educational programs, distributing state orders for training, and organizing retraining systems.
The demand structure for these professionals has been defined by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. Industries such as transportation and logistics, industry, agriculture, and construction will have a significant demand for professionals.
Due to technological transformations, new professions such as social tutors, drone operators, cybersecurity engineers, digital reputation managers, and artificial intelligence specialists are emerging. These electronic tools are intended to reduce the level of informal employment.
The data on the demand structure was reported by our website, citing the press service of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
These strategies are aimed at improving the efficiency of the labor market and adapting it to modern requirements. Extended social support and comprehensive adaptation programs are being provided for migrants in their new jobs. The Kazakhstan government is committed to creating a dynamic, skilled, and adaptable workforce to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
- To ensure a skilled workforce that caters to the demands of the evolving labor market, the Kazakhstan government is developing technical and vocational education (TVET) programs focused on emerging professions such as social tutors, drone operators, and cybersecurity engineers, in line with the goal of the comprehensive strategy to adapt to digital transformation.
- As part of the strategy to address labor shortages in various sectors, AI platforms will be implemented to identify skills gaps across enterprises, thereby connecting individuals with relevant jobs or training opportunities in fields such as transportation and logistics, industry, agriculture, and construction, where there is a significant demand for professionals due to technological transformations.
