Over 13,700 Foreign Citizens Employed in Kazakhstan
As of May 1, 2024, Kazakhstan boasts a workforce comprising 13,733 foreign citizens, all holding permits issued by local executive bodies.
These foreign workers are categorized into various groups based on their roles: 564 are managers and their deputies, 2,599 are heads of structural divisions, while the majority, consisting of 5,592 specialists and 549 skilled workers, fall under the third and fourth categories, respectively. Additionally, 1,639 individuals were engaged for seasonal work, and 2,790 were employed through corporate transfers.
A total of 1,762 employers in Kazakhstan are utilizing these permits, providing employment to over 455,500 Kazakh citizens, which accounts for 99% of the workforce.
In terms of sectors, the highest number of foreign workers are in construction (30.7%), followed by agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (12.2%), administrative and support services (12%), mining and quarrying (9.2%), manufacturing industry (9.4%), and professional, scientific, and technical activities (5.8%).
The primary countries of origin for labor migrants are China (29.5%), Uzbekistan (13.2%), India (8.6%), and Türkiye (7.7%).
To safeguard the domestic labor market, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan annually establishes and allocates quotas for attracting foreign specialists. In 2024, the general quota is set at 0.23% of the workforce, equivalent to 22,000 units.
