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A growing number of Kazakh citizens are seeking employment opportunities abroad, a trend that goes beyond individual financial gain and highlights broader socio-economic conditions within Kazakhstan. While migration processes have appeared to stabilize in recent years, they have become more complex and are undergoing qualitative changes.

Official data from the second quarter of 2025 indicates a positive migration balance for Kazakhstan, with 11,300 people arriving and 3,500 departing, resulting in a net inflow of 7,700 individuals. However, this statistic masks a significant underlying trend: while the majority of arrivals are from CIS countries, skilled, young, and educated Kazakhs are increasingly heading towards developed labor markets.

The Scale of Kazakh Labor Migration

By the end of the first nine months of 2025, the number of Kazakh citizens working officially and unofficially abroad reached 156,000. This figure is comparable to the population of a small city. Geographically, the primary destination remains the Russian Federation, where approximately 128,000 Kazakhs are employed. Significant numbers are also migrating to South Korea, Poland, and the United Kingdom. This reflects not just migration, but a process of adaptation of the workforce to the global labor market.

Motivations for Leaving

The underlying reasons for this phenomenon are frequently debated. Is it merely a desire to experience life abroad, or is it a consequence of slow-moving social mobility within the country? For some young people, it's an opportunity to gain experience and advance their careers. For others, it's a means of escaping economic pressure. Migration is not a single-cause phenomenon but a confluence of multiple social factors.

Personal Stories from Abroad

Behind these numbers are individual stories. Tungyshbek from Shardara, for example, earned approximately 10 million tenge in six months picking strawberries in Scotland. Previously, he worked in a medical warehouse in Almaty. He found the job directly through official employer websites, bypassing intermediaries, and underwent several interviews and a physical assessment. The document processing took about four months.

Working six days a week, 8-12 hours a day in Scotland, he earned between 300,000 and 450,000 tenge weekly. He described the work as difficult but acknowledged it allowed him to pay off debts and accumulate capital in a short period.

The Emotional Cost of Migration

However, migration also has a difficult side. Gulayim, another Kazakh citizen, has been working in a greenhouse in England for three years while her children remain in Kazakhstan. For her, migration represents not only income but also a significant emotional burden.

"We are earning money, we built a house. But when I come to England for six months, I only see my children growing up on a phone screen. This is the biggest price we are paying," she shared. This highlights that labor migration is not just an economic issue but also a social one affecting the institution of the family.

The Evolving Social Profile of Migrants

The number of agencies organizing labor migration from Kazakhstan has reached approximately 400. This sector operated largely unregulated for a long time, but in recent years, the state has increased oversight, introducing licensing and control mechanisms.

According to Aigerim Izzatulla, founder of the "A2" agency, popular destinations currently include Poland and Slovakia, where work visas for general laborers are relatively accessible. Kazakhs often find employment in production, warehousing, packaging, and labeling. There is also high demand in construction, electrical work, welding, and transportation.

The social profile of migrants has also shifted. While previously it was mostly middle-aged workers, the proportion of young people has significantly increased. Some seek to settle abroad, while others aim to gain experience, earn money, and see the world. In terms of language, basic communication in many entry-level jobs often occurs in Russian, with curators assisting in the work process. This indicates a degree of institutionalization in migration.

Risks and Legal Pathways

Despite these developments, risks persist. The practice of entering on tourist visas and then working illegally still occurs. In such cases, individuals lose stable income and social protection, sometimes returning home unsuccessfully or facing deportation. The advantage of a work visa lies in a formal contract, provision of accommodation, and legal employment terms. The legal route significantly enhances a migrant's safety but requires time and patience.

Another crucial aspect is the globalization of the labor market. In recent years, the government has been negotiating with countries like Qatar, South Korea, Japan, Italy, and several European nations. Furthermore, the digital platform migration.enbek.kz has been launched to offer job vacancies online. These steps aim to move labor migration from the shadow economy into an open and regulated system.

Nevertheless, issues like illegal migration, particularly in countries like South Korea, remain unresolved. Some citizens opt for illegal work on tourist visas, a path that often leads to an unstable life. Agency experience shows that some undocumented individuals struggle to find stable work, face difficult situations, or are forced to return to Kazakhstan.

The "Brain Drain" Phenomenon

The 156,000 Kazakhs working abroad are not just individual earners; they are also remitters contributing to the national economy. However, a critical secondary aspect is the departure of skilled professionals, a phenomenon known as "brain drain." This trend could impact the country's human capital potential in the long term.

Viewing this process solely as a loss would be one-sided, as the diaspora abroad can become a social capital for the country. If they maintain ties with Kazakhstan, bringing back experience and investments, it can become an additional resource for development.

Current labor migration is a manifestation of not only economic but also deep social transformation for Kazakhstan. While it opens new opportunities for citizens, it also exposes internal systemic issues. The root cause of migration lies not just in salaries but in the inequality of opportunities. Therefore, the focus should be on managing migration effectively rather than stopping it.

The state's responsibility includes protecting the rights of citizens abroad and creating conditions within the country for their return, as well as preventing the "brain drain" of specialists. Only then can migration become a "circulation" rather than an "exodus," transforming from a risk into a resource for society.

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