Employment - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 131

IT Market

Kazakhstan’s IT Market: Post-Pandemic Growth, Skills Gap, and 17 Resumes per Vacancy

Kazakhstan’s IT labor market is expanding rapidly but facing growing mismatches between available skills and employer demand, according to new research by Ranking.kz. Fast Growth Beyond Statistics The number of specialists in “computer programming, consulting, and related services” has more than tripled in recent years, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The sharpest increase occurred in 2020, when IT employment jumped from 6,900 to 12,100 workers, a 76.7 percent rise in the first post-pandemic year. As of June 2025, 19,500 programmers, developers, and AI specialists were officially registered. However, this figure excludes in-house IT staff employed across industries such as oil and gas, energy, and metallurgy, suggesting actual employment is significantly higher. A 2024 survey by Kolesa Group profiled the median IT specialist as a 26-year-old male with three to five years of experience, working in fintech as a mid-level data analyst, earning approximately 700,000 tenge ($1,300) per month, and having switched jobs twice. International companies increased their IT headcount by 17 to 37 percent between 2021 and 2024, while the proportion of employees aged 26-30 rose by 15 percentage points. Fully remote work has declined, with hybrid formats now the norm. Competition for jobs has intensified. The national electronic labor exchange listed 9,700 resumes in the “IT and telecommunications” category, compared to just 580 vacancies, nearly 17 applicants per position. In Almaty, there were 1,500 candidates for 133 roles; in Astana, 1,000 applicants for 124 positions. The Mangystau region saw the highest disparity, with 655 resumes for just four openings. Skills and Expectations Gap Employers are primarily seeking experienced professionals: 61 percent of vacancies require one to five years of experience, and 8 percent demand more than five years. Only 31 percent of listings are suitable for junior specialists. In contrast, 48 percent of job seekers are entry-level, while only 22.9 percent are senior-level. Demand is shifting toward automation and AI integration. “Today AI is used by everyone from small businesses to multinationals. It raises the bar for employees, basic tools are no longer enough,” said Ekaterina Rehert, founder of DataBoom. “Even Excel now includes Copilot AI. Companies want specialists who know how to embed AI into real processes. Anyone pursuing a career in analytics or related fields must upgrade their AI skills.” Salaries and Global Trends According to Kolesa Group, IT salaries rose 40 percent between 2021 and 2024. The Bureau of National Statistics reported an even steeper increase: salaries in programming and consulting rose 2.5 times, reaching 1.2 million tenge in Q2 2025. The wage gap between IT professionals and the national average widened from 1.7 times in 2020 to 2.8 times in 2025. By specialty, a survey of 420 IT professionals found that machine learning engineers earned the highest salaries (1.6 million tenge or $2,900 per month), followed by data scientists (1.1 million) and data warehouse specialists (1.08 million). Big Data professionals in finance earned 986,300 tenge, compared to just 177,600 tenge for similar roles in the public sector. The World Economic Forum forecasts that...

Employment

Kazakhstan Recognizes Course Certificates as Equivalent to University Diplomas

Kazakhstan’s National Council for Professional Qualifications, in collaboration with industry experts, has approved a new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) that officially recognizes certificates from professional and advanced training courses as valid proof of education for employment purposes. Previously, only diplomas from universities, colleges, and technical schools were accepted. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, the revised system now also includes non-formal and informal learning, skills and knowledge acquired outside traditional educational institutions over a person’s lifetime. The reform is based on the European Qualifications Framework and tailored to meet the evolving demands of Kazakhstan’s labor market. “The updated NQF was developed in line with Kazakhstan’s labor and education legislation and incorporates international practices. It is based on transparency and comparability, which ensures recognition of competencies acquired in different sectors and facilitates labor mobility. The framework supports lifelong learning and is tailored to the real needs of the economy,” said First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askarbek Yertayev. The framework consists of eight levels, ranked by increasing complexity of tasks, responsibility, and knowledge intensity. Under the new system, not only are diplomas and work experience recognized, but certificates from short-term courses and qualifications verified via the Career Enbek portal are now considered official evidence of skills. The Ministry also clarified labor code provisions regarding multiple employment. Citizens are permitted to work for more than one employer, provided the total working time does not exceed 12 hours per day, up to eight hours at the primary job and four hours in secondary employment. However, minors under 18 and employees in hazardous occupations, excluding healthcare workers, are prohibited from holding multiple jobs. Civil servants may not take on secondary employment, except in teaching, research, or creative roles. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, authorities have recently increased pressure on employers who pay “gray wages”, salaries paid off the books without tax or social contributions.

Employment

Tajik Government Seeks New Destinations for Labor Migrants

Tajikistan is intensifying international cooperation in the field of labor migration. According to the Ministry of Labor, Migration, and Employment, the country signed dozens of agreements in the first half of 2025 aimed at simplifying and legalizing the overseas employment of its citizens. However, actual employment figures continue to lag behind the government’s ambitious declarations. Expanding Employment Opportunities At a mid-year press conference, the ministry reported that Tajikistan currently holds 37 international agreements with 15 countries, 13 of which specifically address labor migration and are under implementation. Key partners include Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, South Korea, and Japan. Negotiations are also underway on nine new agreements with countries such as Georgia, Poland, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, and Croatia. Official data show that 9,478 Tajik citizens found employment through 29 licensed organizations in the first half of 2025. Of those, 5,648 were assisted by the State Employment Agency. Despite appearing significant, these numbers represent only a fraction of the working-age population seeking jobs abroad. South Korea, for example, allocated 800 worker quotas for Tajikistan in 2025. Yet only 26 of 35 citizens trained under the Employment Permit System (EPS) passed the required exam. A new group is now in training for the next selection phase. Japan also ranks as a priority destination, but the volume remains low. Of 68 registered candidates, four have begun working, and eight have passed interviews, underscoring Japan’s high entry standards and limited intake. Key Partners: Russia and Saudi Arabia Russia remains Tajikistan’s principal labor migration partner. From January 28 to 31, officials from both countries held “substantive talks” in Moscow, addressing the training of specialists, new employment channels, and joint initiatives. More than 80 Russian companies have reportedly expressed interest in hiring Tajik workers, a figure that the ministry says reflects rising demand for labor from Tajikistan. Saudi Arabia is emerging as a new strategic partner. During a visit by a Tajik delegation, officials held talks with the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and with executives from Arco, a major HR outsourcing firm in the Middle East. Ambitious Goals, Limited Impact While the Ministry of Labor and Migration continues efforts to expand cooperation, protect migrants’ rights, and promote safe, legal employment abroad, progress remains uneven. Despite active diplomacy, the scale of organized labor migration is still limited. The real measure of success will be the implementation of these agreements, not their number. With millions of Tajik citizens still seeking employment overseas, building effective systems and improving workforce skills will require sustained effort, time, and investment.

Labor Market

Kazakhstan to Require Up to 3 Million Skilled Workers in Coming Years

Kazakhstan will need approximately 3 million qualified specialists over the next three to five years, according to Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Askar Biakhmetov. Speaking at a recent government meeting, Biakhmetov emphasized that this forecast should guide national strategies in education, vocational training, and workforce retraining. Workforce Priorities Data from the Ministry of Labor show that the highest demand (29%) will be for professionals in public services, including government administration, education, healthcare, and social security. This is followed by business services (21%), logistics and transport (16%), industry (13%), and construction and agriculture, each accounting for 7%. “These data must be taken into account when approving professional standards, developing educational programs, allocating state education grants, and organizing retraining initiatives,” Biakhmetov said. He noted the importance of prioritizing retraining programs, as automation and technological change continue to render many professions obsolete, while new sectors demand different competencies. Structural issues persist, including uncompetitive wages and regional imbalances in the labor force, particularly a labor surplus in the south and shortages in the north. Internal migration has also led to oversaturation in major urban centers, straining social and municipal infrastructure. The Ministry also flagged informal employment as a major challenge. In 2024, an estimated 30% of the working-age population were employed without pension contributions. Moreover, about 30% of university graduates are working in fields unrelated to their studies. “Often, graduates don’t study what they want due to low grant scores. As a result, they are trained in one field but work in another,” Biakhmetov explained. By 2025, Kazakhstan’s economically active population is projected to reach 11.3 million, about 60% of the total population of 20.3 million. The unemployment rate currently stands at 4.6%. Looking ahead, the annual growth of the labor force is expected to hit 360,000 by 2035. To address the evolving demands of the economy, the Ministry of Labor is developing an AI-based digital platform designed to identify skills gaps across enterprises and match individuals with relevant job vacancies or training programs. Linking Investment to Job Creation Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the need for both foreign and domestic investors to take greater responsibility for employment generation within the scope of active and planned investment projects. He stipulated that at least 30% of investment budgets should be allocated to wages. “An Innovative Project Navigator has been developed to monitor employment trends and ensure investors meet their obligations. Currently, the system covers only large projects, but by September 1, data on all investment projects for 2025-2027 must be entered,” Bektenov said. He also ordered that key performance indicators (KPIs) for regional and municipal leaders regarding employment expansion be introduced starting in 2026. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, 979,000 people were employed in Kazakhstan in 2024.

Migration

Kyrgyzstan Expands Labor Cooperation with Japan to Promote Safe Migration

Kyrgyzstan is strengthening labor migration ties with Japan as part of a broader strategy to diversify employment opportunities for its citizens abroad. The Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration is working to establish safe, legal, and skills-based pathways for Kyrgyz workers to access the Japanese labor market, in line with international labor standards and Japan’s workforce demands. On July 2, officials from the Ministry’s Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad met in Bishkek with representatives from the Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC), an organization that facilitates the recruitment of specified skilled workers in Japan’s construction sector. The two sides discussed plans to create a specialized training center in Kyrgyzstan to prepare construction professionals according to Japanese industry standards. They also agreed to develop free Japanese language courses to enhance the employability of Kyrgyz job seekers. In May, Kyrgyz Minister of Labor Ravshanbek Sabirov held talks with Hitoshi Kanamori, President of IM Japan, the largest Japanese organization overseeing the technical intern training program. The discussions focused on expanding structured employment pathways for Kyrgyz nationals in Japan. The Kyrgyz side reiterated its commitment to training workers in fields currently in high demand in Japan, including IT, social services, hospitality, and skilled trades such as welding. Both parties stressed the importance of integrating vocational training with Japanese language instruction. Minister Sabirov also emphasized the need to ensure labor protections for Kyrgyz citizens working abroad. “It is important that Kyrgyz specialists not only secure employment but also have access to social insurance, legal protection, and consistent communication with Kyrgyz government bodies,” he said. While Russia remains the primary destination for Kyrgyz labor migrants, recent years have seen growing interest in alternative destinations such as Turkey, South Korea, Japan, and parts of Europe.

Bilateral Relations

Slovakia Opens Job Opportunities for Kyrgyz Bus Drivers

The Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad, operating under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, has begun registering candidates for bus driver positions in Slovakia. The Center has signed an agreement with INDEX NOSLUS s.r.o., a Slovak company specializing in human resources management and international recruitment. “This agreement aims to strengthen bilateral ties in labor migration and create reliable conditions for Kyrgyz citizens working in Slovakia,” the Employment Center stated. Kyrgyz authorities believe the partnership will significantly increase the number of legal employment opportunities for Kyrgyz workers while ensuring transparent hiring conditions and social security protections. Plans include the development of joint programs for recruitment, training, and worker support. As part of the current recruitment process, the Employment Center will invite 50 candidates, from which 15 will be selected to work for a Slovak transportation company. Applicants must be Kyrgyz citizens between 22 and 50 years old, have experience in passenger transport, and possess a clean criminal record and no chronic illnesses. According to Slovak employment terms, workers will be paid €7.40 per hour, resulting in an average net monthly income of approximately €1,200. The Kyrgyz authorities guarantee official employment registration and social protections for those hired. Six months ago, Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, Nurlanbek Shakiev, met with Kyrgyz labor migrants in Slovakia during an official visit. According to Shakiev, an estimated 4,000 Kyrgyz citizens are currently employed in Slovakia. Kyrgyz officials are also considering the opening of an embassy in Slovakia to support and protect the interests of Kyrgyz nationals working there. In addition to Slovakia, the United Kingdom and Italy have also signed official agreements with Kyrgyzstan for seasonal employment programs. Today, tens of thousands of Kyrgyz workers are employed in these countries.