Foreign workers in Kazakhstan: current statistics and employment sectors
Images | telegram/UKIMET
According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as of March 1, 2025, 13,584 foreign citizens are officially employed in Kazakhstan. Most of them are employed in construction, industry, and agriculture, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the data, out of the 13,584 foreign citizens, 569 individuals fall into the first category, holding managerial positions. "2,514 permits for heads of structural divisions (second category). The bulk of the attracted foreign labor force belongs to the third (specialists) and fourth (skilled workers) categories-4,711 and 1,010 people, respectively. Also, 1,217 people are attracted for seasonal work, and 3,563 people are part of a corporate transfer," the ministry reports.
A total of 1,744 employers in Kazakhstan use foreign labor, but 96.5% of employees at these enterprises are citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The main countries from which labor migrants arrive are China (4,945 people), India (1,169), Türkiye (1,165), and Uzbekistan (1,056).
By type of economic activity, the largest number works in the following areas: construction-5,052 people, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries-1,296 people, manufacturing-1,281 people, mining and quarrying-1,263 people, and administrative and support services-975 people," the report says.
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Kazakh President and PM of Hungary hold talks
Images | Akorda
Greeting the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, the Head of State reminded that a package of strategically important agreements was signed during his state visit to Budapest last year, Kazinform News Agency cites the Akorda press service.
He said the visit was fruitful in achieving practical agreements and strengthening mutual understanding between Astana and Budapest.
Noting the significance of the upcoming informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev affirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to constructive dialogue on priority directions of the OTS activities.
Viktor Orbán thanked the Head of State for his visit and noted the sustainable positive dynamics of Kazakhstan-Hungary relations.
He said bilateral cooperation has lately developed dynamically, especially in the economic sphere and expressed gratitude for all-around support in the organization and holding the OTS Summit.
Besides, they also shared views on pressing issues of the international agenda.
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President Tokayev grants academic status to two theaters
Images | Akorda
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed today the ceremony of presenting awards to culture and art figures at the Akorda presidential palace ahead of the Cultural and Art Workers’ Day, Kazinform News Agency cites the press service of Akorda.
During the ceremony, the Kazakh President expressed gratitude to culture and art figures, highlighting their "contribution to the spiritual world, preserving the national identity".
It’s culture than shapes the nation, said Tokayev, highlight the role of art in making Kazakhstan recognized worldwide. "Our country is the direct successor of the unique culture of the Great Steppe".
The Head of State also said: "The finest works created on the Kazakh soil played a key role in forming the national identity".
Nowadays, our distinctive culture gains worldwide recognition. Our talented musicians perform on the world’s prestigious stages. Kazakhstani filmmakers receive high praise form experts at different international festivals, said Tokayev.
Astana successfully hosted the World Nomad Games; the city of Aktau was declared the cultural capital of the Turkic world.
The Kazakh President also mentioned the country’s efforts to digitize its cultural heritage, as 1,500 kuis, songs and the best pieces of the folk heritage of the nation are now available at the most popular platforms of the world. Tokayev also stressed the role of the creative industry in promoting the national art.
The Head of State said: "The state continues to pay special attention to art, which shapes the country’s spirituality".
The country built 45 new cultural facilities last year alone and will continue its efforts, he said.
During the event, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced to grant the academic status to the Kazakh Drama Theatre named after Biken Rimova, Almaty State Puppet Theatre and the Philharmonic named after Garifulla Kurmangaliyev.
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Prime Minister instructs to ensure high organisation of UNT and to organise summer employment for students and schoolchildren
Images | primeminister.kz
At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, issues related to the end of the academic year were discussed, primeminister.kz reports.
In Kazakhstan, 3.9 million students are completing the school year, including over 200,000 eleventh-grade students. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring a high level of organization for exams, the Unified National Testing, as well as children's summer recreation and health programs. He also highlighted the need to ensure safety during "last bell" ceremonies and graduation celebrations.
I would also like to address the parent community: I urge you to monitor your children during graduation events and, most importantly, during the summer holidays. Your attention, upbringing, and involvement in your children's lives and challenges will have the most effective impact. The foundations of morality, social behavior, and patriotism are instilled primarily by parents. No ministry can replace parental care and engagement in a child’s life. Raising responsible citizens is a major shared responsibility of both the state and society. Therefore, let us strengthen our cooperation in shaping responsible, educated, and patriotic citizens," Olzhas Bektenov noted.
In addition, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, together with regional authorities, to organize temporary employment for school and university students wishing to work during the summer. All activities must be carried out with strict adherence to labor rights and age restrictions.
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Olzhas Bektenov holds Interim Meeting of Foreign Investors Council
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Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, held an interim meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council. The meeting addressed current issues related to investor activities in the country and their contribution to domestic value creation, primeminister.kz reports.
As instructed by the Head of State, the Government is implementing systemic measures to improve the business climate and accelerate economic diversification. These efforts aim to attract additional capital, expand the country’s resource potential, and launch new industrial enterprises.
The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to close cooperation with investors to implement new projects in priority sectors of the economy, ensure deep localization, and increase employment.
As the Head of State noted, under the current geopolitical and economic conditions, the top priority is to create a favorable environment for enhancing entrepreneurial activity through the attraction of private investment. We are interested in working with you to establish new production facilities in Kazakhstan, which will support job creation and deep localization. It is important to unlock the potential for new areas of cooperation and implement breakthrough projects in the priority sectors of the economy. We have created all the necessary conditions for this. The Government of Kazakhstan is open to constructive dialogue and ready to jointly find solutions that will contribute to our country’s development," Olzhas Bektenov stated.
During the meeting, joint working groups presented reports on the implementation of investment policy; healthcare and the development of the pharmaceutical industry; energy, ecology, and the oil and gas sector; labor legislation and human capital development; and digitalization.
Speakers included:
- Yerlan Dosymbekov, Chairman of the Board of the Association "Kazakhstan Foreign Investors’ Council" and Managing Partner at EY for Central Asia and the Caucasus,
- Cécile Rollin, Managing Director of ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc.,
- Dimitriy Propp, Director of Marketing and Sales in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan at Knauf Gips Kapchagay LLP,
- Saken Zhumashev, Managing Partner and Executive Director at KPMG Caucasus and Central Asia,
- Adam Alekseyuk, CEO of JSC "Himpharm",
- Huseyin Ozhan, Managing Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The speakers highlighted that future efforts will focus on improving environmental regulations, developing cloud technologies and artificial intelligence, refining migration policies, digitalizing subsoil use processes, enhancing inter-agency coordination regarding the declining Caspian Sea level, and attracting investment and technology in the healthcare sector.
Representatives from the Ministries of National Economy, Energy, Labor and Social Protection, Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, and Health provided comments on the issues raised by investors.
Kazakhstan is implementing a number of systemic measures to improve the business environment. The Law on Industrial Policy has been adopted, supporting local suppliers and integrating them into value chains. The Investment Policy Concept has been updated through 2029 to foster a sustainable business ecosystem. The National Digital Investment Platform has been launched to streamline project implementation processes. Infrastructure support is being provided, with ready-made industrial sites available in special economic, industrial, and small industrial zones. Work is underway to conclude long-term contracts and off-take agreements to load existing production capacities and attract new participants.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed government bodies and organizations to address the issues and recommendations raised.
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Kazakhstan starts implementing 2nd phase of North Aral Sea conservation project
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Kazakhstan and the World Bank have discussed the implementation of the second phase of the North Aral Sea preservation project, Kazinform News Agency reports.
The issue was discussed at a meeting between Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Sameh Wahba, World Bank’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Kyzylorda region.
According to Nurzhigitov, the Ministry has nearly completed the development of a feasibility study for the project’s second phase. In the second phase, the Ministry plans to reconstruct the Kokaral Dam and raise water level to 44 meters as per the Baltic Elevation System, as well as to build a hydraulic structure near Amanotkel village to stabilize water resources in lake systems of Akshatau and Kamystybas of Aral district.
As a result, the area of the water surface of the North Aral Sea will expand to 3,913 square kilometers, and the volume of water will reach 34 cubic kilometers. Experts say it will take from 4 to 5 years to replenish the sea with water.
This option of conserving the sea is based on the results of analysis and assessment of average annual volumes of water inflow along the Syr Darya River basin from 1913 to 2019 and physical parameters of water ponds.
We have reviewed various options of the project’s implementation. Since the year beginning, we have held several meetings with the regional authorities and administration of Aral district. During my working trip to the region, I met local public, deputies of the Parliament, designers, water sector veterans and other interested governmental agencies. The selected option seems to be the most optimal in terms of timing and also takes into account the real situation in the Syr Darya River basin," Minister Nurzhigitov says.
For his part, Sameh Wahba said that the World Bank is interested in further participation in the North Aral Sea conservation.
It should be reminded that the World Bank allocated a grant to Kazakhstan for the development of the project’s feasibility study.
Today we have visited the fish processing plant and saw how many jobs will be generated in the region after the project’s implementation. There will also be employment opportunities in other sectors, including agriculture, cattle-breeding and tourism. Thus, the project will let create new economic opportunities for the region. The North Aral Sea conservation project is very important, as it sets an example of restoration of the entire eco-system," he noted.
The expertise on the project’s feasibility study will be ready by December 2025.
The North Aral Sea conservation project sets a goal to increase the water volume and improve its quality in the sea, to restore the Syr Darya River delta, to decrease salt removal from the sea bottom, to improve the management of the North Aral Sea water resources, to develop fishery in Kyzylorda region and to improve the quality of the residents’ life.
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