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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.

Forced Labor

State Workers in Turkmenistan Once Again Forced to Fund Cotton Harvest

As the cotton harvest begins in Turkmenistan, reports from the independent outlet turkmen.news indicates that the annual season is once again marred by forced labor practices. Pay or Work the Fields In Lebap and Mary provinces, state employees, including teachers, doctors, and workers from the Turkmenabat silk production association and a local knitwear factory, are being compelled to contribute financially toward the harvest. The daily levy stands at 30 manats (approximately $1.50). Since August 3, similar demands have reportedly extended to medical and educational staff in Mary province. As in previous years, state workers are frequently presented with a coercive “choice”: pay for a replacement harvester or work in the fields themselves. Some avoid field labor by sending their children in their place. Reform Promises Fall Short In 2024, the Turkmen government, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization, unveiled a roadmap for eradicating forced labor in the cotton industry. The plan outlined key measures to safeguard workers’ rights and address systemic abuses. Despite this, rights groups, including the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights, the Progres Foundation, and the Cotton Campaign, warn that little can change while the state maintains total control over the cotton supply chain, from seed distribution to raw cotton procurement. These organizations argue that genuine reform requires guarantees of free speech and the right to organize, allowing citizens to report abuses and form independent trade unions. In reality, however, workplace union leaders are reportedly tasked with collecting money from employees and organizing labor schedules. Experts note that this top-down mobilization underscores the state-driven nature of the system, perpetuating a cycle of coercion rather than addressing its root causes.

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.

Construction

Kyrgyzstan Tops EAEU in Construction Growth Despite Labor Woes

Kyrgyzstan recorded the highest growth in construction activity among member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) during the first half of 2025, according to data published by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). Infrastructure Boom Drives Expansion Between January and May 2025, construction volumes in Kyrgyzstan nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2024. Last year, the sector had already grown by 38% year-on-year. Armenia followed with a growth rate of 29%, while Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Russia posted more modest increases of 15.4%, 12.3%, and 5.5% respectively. Across the EAEU, construction grew by an average of 6.8%. The primary drivers of Kyrgyzstan’s construction boom include extensive state and private investment in housing, infrastructure, and industrial development. The government has focused on building hydroelectric power plants, residential complexes, and administrative buildings. Notably, the state mortgage program offers housing loans at 4-8% interest rates, well below market levels. From January to April 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated nearly $500 million toward housing projects, supplemented by $77 million in equity financing. To help stabilize construction costs, the government also classified cement as a socially significant good, subject to price controls. According to The Times of Central Asia, investment in housing, infrastructure, and social facilities rose by 62% year-on-year during the first four months of 2025, reaching approximately $800 million, the highest figure in recent years. The construction sector contributed an estimated 3% to Kyrgyzstan’s GDP growth in the first half of the year. Quality and Labor Concerns Persist Despite these achievements, concerns are growing over construction quality and labor shortages. Residents in major cities report poorly planned developments that lack supporting infrastructure, including roads and essential utilities such as water and electricity. Speaking to The Times of Central Asia, construction auditor Bakhtiar Kasymaliyev highlighted critical challenges in project execution. “We have serious problems with quality and professionalism,” he said. “There is a shortage of skilled concrete workers and bricklayers. They are in high demand. As a temporary solution, companies are bringing in labor from Pakistan, India, and Egypt, but most of them are unskilled. To improve quality, we need to attract qualified specialists from abroad.” According to Kasymaliyev, the labor shortage is already impacting project timelines and structural integrity, raising red flags amid the sector’s rapid expansion.