Employment continues to grow in Kazakhstan’s labour market

According to a sample survey of population employment, 9.4 mln people were employed across various sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy in the second quarter of 2026. Of this total, 7.3 mln were employees working under an employment relationship.

The remaining 2.1 mln people were self-employed. This represents a significant segment of the labour market, traditionally comprising farmers, individual entrepreneurs and persons engaged in informal employment.

The largest share of employment is concentrated in the wholesale and retail trade sector, which accounts for 16.8% of all employed persons in Kazakhstan. Education ranks second, accounting for 13.3%.

Industry ranks third at 12.4%. Agriculture provides employment to 10.5% of the employed population.

The transport and warehousing sector accounts for 7.1% of employment. Construction and human health and social work activities are nearly equal in terms of their share, at 6.8% and 6.6%, respectively.

Compared with the second quarter of 2025, employment increased across a number of economic sectors. The largest increase was recorded in real estate activities, where the number of employed persons rose by 37,000.

The education sector added 31,100 employees, while human health and social work activities recorded an increase of 21,200 employed persons compared with the previous year.

A notable increase was also recorded in arts, entertainment and recreation, where employment grew by 15,100 people. Professional, scientific and technical activities added 7,700 employed persons.

Financial and insurance activities increased their workforce by 7,400 people.