Kazakhstan Boosts Vocational Training as Demand for Blue-Collar Workers Surges

Kazakhstan is experiencing a growing demand for blue-collar workers, particularly in the construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors, according to Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askar Biakhmetov. In 2024, a total of 979,000 job seekers found employment in Kazakhstan, including 714,000 individuals who secured permanent jobs, Biakhmetov stated. Kazakhstan’s Labor Market Development Concept aims to increase the number of high-quality, well-paid jobs from 2.5 million in 2024 to 3.8 million by 2029. To achieve this, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has expanded vocational training programs: In 2023, 67,500 people participated in short-term vocational courses The Skills Enbek online training platform trained 57,700 people, of whom 14,600 secured jobs after completing their courses The platform currently offers 858 online courses, including 311 free courses, aimed at helping individuals gain new skills or improve their qualifications Kazakhstan has declared 2025 the “Year of Blue-Collar Professions” to highlight the importance of vocational careers. “The total demand for labor over the next six years is estimated at 1.6 million workers. Of these, around 900,000 jobs will require vocational education, while more than 400,000 positions will be in blue-collar professions,” Biakhmetov stated. Meanwhile, the government is taking steps to reduce reliance on foreign labor. Svetlana Zhakupova, Minister of Labor and Social Protection, announced that Kazakhstan’s annual foreign labor quota will be reduced from 22,000 to 15,000 in 2025. As Kazakhstan continues to modernize its labor market, the government is prioritizing workforce development through training initiatives and employment programs, ensuring sufficient skilled labor for the country’s growing economy.

Kyrgyzstan Faces Labor Shortages Amid Growing Return Migration

As of February 1, 2025, Kyrgyzstan had 6,305 job vacancies, with the highest demand for blue-collar workers, according to the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration. The official unemployment rate currently stands at 1.8%. A total of 69,300 people have sought assistance from the employment service, with 49,800 officially registered as unemployed. Since the beginning of the year, 12,246 citizens have applied for job placement, and 1,283 have successfully secured employment. To enhance job seekers' competitiveness in the labor market, the employment service has introduced training programs for in-demand professions. These include computer operation, sales, cooking, cosmetology, hairdressing, manicuring, massage therapy, makeup artistry, translation, accounting, sewing, driving, electric and gas welding, plumbing, and beekeeping. Over the past three decades, hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens have migrated abroad for work, primarily to Russia. However, in recent years, return migration has been rising due to Russia’s economic downturn, stricter regulations, and increasing anti-immigrant sentiment toward Central Asians. In response to this trend, the Kyrgyz government has prioritized establishing new industrial enterprises to create job opportunities for returning labor migrants.