Kazakhstan’s labor market continues to demonstrate positive dynamics, while its employment structure is showing an interesting shift. Over the past year, the number of employed people has increased, while the latest quarterly data show a decline in the number of wage employees and growth in self-employment.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the labor force in Kazakhstan reached 9.84 million people in the second quarter of 2026. Around 9.4 million of them were employed. At the same time, the number of unemployed people fell to 444,600, bringing the unemployment rate to 4.5%.
For comparison, there were 448,800 unemployed people in the second quarter of 2025. This means their number decreased by approximately 4,200 people over the year. Meanwhile, the number of employed people increased by 99,500, or 1.1%.
Fewer Wage Employees, More Self-Employed People
At the same time, the structure of employment changed during the latest quarter. Compared with the first quarter of 2026, the number of wage employees decreased by 37,300, reaching 7.25 million.
In contrast, the number of self-employed people increased by 45,200, reaching 2.15 million.
As a result, the overall number of employed people did not decline. On the contrary, it increased by another 7,900 people over the three-month period. In other words, the decline in wage employment was offset by growth in self-employment.
However, the annual figures paint a different picture. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, the number of wage employees increased by 113,800, while the number of self-employed people decreased by 14,300.
Therefore, it is still too early to consider the changes recorded over a single quarter a long-term trend. Data from the coming quarters will show whether this shift becomes more persistent.
Youth Unemployment Also Declines
One of the positive developments in the labor market is the decline in youth unemployment.
The unemployment rate among people aged 15–34 fell to 2.9% in the second quarter of 2026. A year earlier, the figure stood at 3.1%, while in the first quarter of this year it was 3%.
Meanwhile, the number of people outside the labor force reached 4.76 million, an increase of 114,600 people, or approximately 2.5%, compared with the same period last year.
Labor Market Remains Relatively Stable
Overall, the statistics point to a relatively stable labor market in Kazakhstan: unemployment is declining, while the number of employed people continues to grow.
At the same time, the recent decline in wage employment alongside an increase in self-employment deserves attention. Whether this represents a temporary fluctuation or the beginning of a new trend in the labor market will become clearer as data from the coming quarters emerge.
For now, the key indicators point to continued employment growth, while changes in the structure and forms of employment are likely to remain an important area to monitor.