In the I quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate in Kazakhstan, calculated according to the International Labour Organisation's methodology (who did not have a profitable occupation (job), were actively looking for it and were ready to start it), amounted to 4.8%.

9 million people were employed in various sectors of the economy, of whom 6.9 million were wage earners (76.7% of all workers in the economy) and 2.1 million were self-employed (23.3% of all workers in the economy). The employment rate to the population aged 15 and over was 65%.

Compared to the I quarter of 2022, total employment increased by 72.3 thousand people, of which 39.5 thousand people were employed and 32.8 thousand people were self-employed.

The largest share of the employed population was observed in trade (17.3%), education (12.9%), industry (12.6%) and agriculture (11.5%).

In the I quarter of 2023, there were 453.5 thousand unemployed people.

Among young people aged 15 to 34²⁾ the unemployment rate was 4.1%. The proportion of NEET youth who do not work and are not engaged in education or vocational training was 7.9% (422 thousand people).

Officially at the end of April 2023. 286.1 thousand unemployed were registered in the employment agencies of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The proportion of registered unemployed was 3% of the labor force.

Methodical explanation

The unemployed (according to ILO standards) are persons who did not have a profitable occupation (job), were actively looking for it and were ready to start it.

¹⁾ Data from a sample survey of employment.

²⁾ According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On State Youth Policy". From January 1, 2023 the age of young people is increased to 35 years.