The number of employed people in Kazakhstan reached 9.392 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 108,500 from a year earlier, according to the website infohub.kz.
The main trend in the labor market is a shift from informal to formal employment. The number of people working under employment contracts increased by nearly 150,000, from 7.14 million to 7.29 million. The number of self-employed fell by 41,000, from 2.14 million to 2.1 million. The share of independent workers decreased from 357,200 to 326,600.
The Ministry of Labor emphasized that formal employment provides workers with a full range of guarantees: social insurance, pension contributions, paid sick leave, and vacation.
The overall unemployment rate remained low at 4.5% (446,000 people), while youth unemployment stood at 3%.
State employment programs have significantly contributed to the dynamics. As of July 1, 2026, more than 249,500 people found jobs with the assistance of the government and employers, of which 96,400 were hired for permanent positions.