Significant labor force expansion: decline in joblessness rate observed
Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, is home to a vibrant community of young people aged 14 to 35, with 315,509 working-age individuals living within its borders [1]. In an effort to support this demographic, various employment measures have been put in place.
Job Placement and Subsidized Jobs
One of the key initiatives is the utilization of Enbek.kz, a state-supported digital platform designed to facilitate job matching and support employment initiatives [2]. This platform assists youth in finding suitable jobs, including positions with wage subsidies to incentivize employers to hire young workers. As of the report, 1,438 young people have been placed on subsidized jobs in Astana [3].
Career Center Role
The Career Center in Astana serves as a hub for career counseling, job search assistance, and vocational guidance tailored to young professionals [4]. It links youth with employers and provides information on labor market trends and opportunities. Since the beginning of 2025, 19,131 young people have applied to the Career Center for job mediation [5]. As of today, 8,134 young people have been covered by employment measures from the Career Center [6].
Entrepreneurship Training Programs
Alongside direct employment support, youth are offered entrepreneurial skills development through targeted training programs [7]. These programs aim to boost youth entrepreneurship, equipping them with necessary business planning, management, and startup skills to create their own employment opportunities. Within the "Baqytty Biznes" project, 934 young people have undergone training in the basics of entrepreneurship [8].
Though the precise details from recent events are not available, these measures align with Kazakhstan’s ongoing youth employment policy framework, which emphasizes improving employability via career guidance, labor market information, and entrepreneurship promotion as part of national strategic priorities for youth employment and economic development [9][4].
In summary, the support framework for young professionals in Astana includes:
- Digital job placement and subsidized jobs via Enbek.kz,
- Career counseling and job search support through the Career Center,
- Entrepreneurship training programs to foster self-employment and business creation.
These integrated measures are designed to facilitate the transition from education to work, reduce youth unemployment, and enhance economic participation of young people in the capital city.
[1] [Data source] [2] [Data source] [3] [Data source] [4] [Data source] [5] [Data source] [6] [Data source] [7] [Data source] [8] [Data source] [9] [Data source]
- The career center in Astana offers education and self-development resources for young professionals, serving as a hub for job search assistance and vocational guidance, with 19,131 young people having applied for job mediation services since the beginning of 2025.
- As part of Kazakhstan's ongoing youth employment policy, Astana's Entrepreneurship training programs are helping youth develop the skills needed for business creation, with 934 young people having received training in the basics of entrepreneurship as part of the "Baqytty Biznes" project.
