KazEconomy

📌 Mangystau Region: Oil, Subsidies, and the Illusion of Stability

Mangystau Region is a land of contrasts. On one hand, it boasts vast oil reserves and a strategic location on the Caspian Sea. On the other, 45.9% of its budget relies on government transfers, and private business remains underdeveloped.

🔹 Where Do People Live?
📌 Population: 786 837 people, with 54.47% in rural areas.
📌 The largest cities and districts are:
✔ Aktau – 281 805 people
✔ Munaily District – 168 885 people
✔ Zhanaozen – 151 564 people
⚠ Yet, none of these cities have become true economic hubs.

🔹 Economy: Oil – a Blessing or a Risk?
📌 Total regional revenue: 565.4 billion tenge, but 45.9% comes from government transfers.
📌 Top districts by revenue:
✔ Aktau – 36.9 billion tenge
✔ Karakiya District – 14.5 billion tenge
⚠ If oil prices drop or subsidies are reduced, the region could face a financial crisis.

🔹 Taxes: Weak Business, Heavy Burden on Citizens
📌 40.5% of tax revenue comes from personal income tax, while corporate tax is only 10.9%.
📌 Top districts by per capita tax revenue:
✔ Karakiya District – 392 747 tenge
✔ Mangystau District – 236 444 tenge
✔ Aktau – 120 353 tenge
⚠ With little support for small and medium-sized businesses, most of the tax burden falls on individuals.

🔹 Budget: Education Prioritized, Healthcare Underfunded
📌 44.4% of the budget goes to education, but only 3.8% to healthcare.
📌 The highest spending on social services is in Aktau (6.41 billion tenge), yet healthcare funding remains critically low.

📢 The region remains heavily dependent on oil and government subsidies. Without economic diversification, Mangystau could face serious challenges in the future.

Read the full article on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=14109&lang=en

📌 Engineering Education in Kazakhstan: Recognized Globally or Stuck Locally?

Today, engineering education is a key factor in a country’s global competitiveness. In an era of rapid digitalization and technological progress, Kazakhstan needs to train specialists who meet international standards. But how well are Kazakhstani degrees recognized abroad?

🔹 Why Does International Accreditation Matter?
📌 Graduates of accredited programs can work in Washington Accord member countries without additional certification.
📌 Accreditation enhances university reputation, attracting international students and opening doors to global projects.
📌 Meeting international accreditation standards pushes universities to modernize curricula, improving education quality nationwide.

🔹 What Has Been Done in Kazakhstan?
📌 The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has approved 12 accreditation agencies, including ABET, one of the world’s leading engineering education accreditation bodies.
📌 The Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) has received ABET accreditation twice.
📌 Nazarbayev University is preparing to apply for accreditation from the same organization.
⚠ However, there is little public information on other universities seeking international accreditation, raising concerns about the overall level of engineering education in Kazakhstan.

🔹 How Kazakhstan Can Benefit
✅ More competitive graduates – easier access to international job markets.
✅ Increased foreign investment – accredited institutions are more attractive for global tech businesses.
✅ Boosting innovation-driven economic growth – world-class engineers will accelerate Kazakhstan’s technological development.

📢 Kazakhstan has taken its first steps toward international recognition of engineering education. However, full global integration requires systemic reforms and more universities obtaining international accreditation.

Read the full article on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=14127&lang=en

📌 20 Years of the WHO FCTC: A Landmark in Tobacco Control

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has been in force for 20 years, becoming one of the most widely embraced UN treaties in history. The results? 118 million fewer tobacco users since 2005, and a global push for stricter tobacco control measures.

🔹 Key Achievements
📌 183 parties covering 90% of the world’s population have committed to tobacco control policies.
📌 138 countries now require large pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages.
📌 66 countries have implemented total bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
📌 Over 25% of the world’s population is protected by smoke-free laws.
📌 Tax increases remain the most cost-effective tool, making tobacco products less affordable while boosting government revenues.

🔹 The New Battle: E-Cigarettes & Industry Tactics
⚠ With cigarette sales declining, tobacco companies are aggressively marketing e-cigarettes, falsely portraying them as “healthier” despite their toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.
⚠ Only 56 countries are on track to meet the global goal of a 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2025.

🔹 Beyond Health: Tobacco’s Economic & Environmental Damage
📌 1.8% of global GDP is lost annually due to smoking-related healthcare costs and productivity declines.
📌 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded every year, making tobacco the second largest source of plastic pollution.
📌 Tobacco farming wastes valuable land and water, while 80 million tonnes of CO₂ are emitted annually from tobacco production and consumption.

📢 The fight against tobacco is far from over. Governments must fully implement WHO FCTC provisions to protect public health, economies, and the environment for future generations.

📢 Commentary from EcONomyKZ – Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on global socio-economic issues!

Read the full article on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=14086&lang=en

📌 Kyzylorda Region: A Subsidized Territory or a New Growth Hub?

Kyzylorda Region is one of the most heavily subsidized regions in Kazakhstan, with 77% of its budget coming from government transfers. At the same time, 53.06% of the population lives in rural areas, making it one of the least urbanized regions in the country. Without significant economic changes, Kyzylorda risks remaining dependent on state support for years to come.

🔹 Revenue: The Region Struggles to Be Self-Sufficient
📌 Total revenue – 688.4 billion tenge, of which 530.2 billion tenge (77%) comes from government transfers.
📌 Kyzylorda city generates 37.9 billion tenge, but other districts contribute significantly less.

🔹 Taxes: A Weak Business Sector, Tax Burden on Individuals
📌 Tax revenues – 113.9 billion tenge (only 16.5% of total income).
📌 66% of tax revenues come from personal income tax and social contributions, while corporate taxes account for just 14.6%.

🔹 Spending: Healthcare Neglected
📌 Total budget – 707.6 billion tenge.
📌 43.3% is allocated to education, while healthcare receives only 2.7%, despite a shortage of medical facilities.

📢 Kyzylorda Region remains highly dependent on state funding. Without investment in industry and infrastructure, it risks falling further behind in economic growth.

📢 EcONomyKZ Commentary – Subscribe to our Telegram channel for key updates on Kazakhstan’s and global socio-economic trends!

Read the full article on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=14066&lang=en

📢 Engel’s Law: Are Kazakhstan’s Incomes Really Growing?

In the 19th century, German statistician Ernst Engel discovered a pattern: the more a family spends on food, the lower their standard of living. When most of the income goes toward basic needs, there is little left for education, healthcare, leisure, and investments.

💰 Salaries are rising, but…
Over the past 7 years, the average salary in Kazakhstan has increased 2.6 times. However, food expenses have not decreased. In fact, they rose from 46.6% in 2017 to 50% in 2024.

🔍 What does this mean?
✅ Higher salaries haven’t improved living standards.
✅ Families still spend half of their income on food.
✅ Regional inequality is growing: the highest food expenses are in Almaty, Turkestan, Zhambyl, and Mangystau regions.

📌 Nominal income growth does not mean real improvements in well-being. Many Kazakhstanis still struggle to afford anything beyond basic needs.

📢 EcONomyKZ Commentary: Stay informed—subscribe to our Telegram channel for expert insights!

Read the full expert opinion of independent analyst Azamat Samenov on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=14031&lang=en

📌 Karaganda Region: An Industrial Powerhouse or a Budget-Dependent Territory?

Karaganda Region is Kazakhstan’s center for metallurgy and coal mining. However, despite its strong industrial base, 51.5% of its budget comes from government subsidies. Why does an economically powerful region still rely on state support?

🔹 Where is the population concentrated?
📌 81.6% of residents live in cities. The largest cities are Karaganda (520K), Temirtau (177K), Balkhash (77K).
📌 Priozersk (11K), Aktogay District (15K), Nura District (21K) – these areas are losing population and struggling to attract investment.

🔹 Revenue: Industry is active, but money is short
📌 Total regional revenue – 782.5 billion tenge, with 51.5% coming from state transfers.
📌 Karaganda generates 111.3 billion, but even major industrial centers like Temirtau (36.7 billion) and Balkhash (13.5 billion) can’t fully cover their budgets.

🔹 Taxes: Who pays the most?
📌 37.6% of tax revenue comes from personal income tax (PIT) – meaning the financial burden falls mostly on individuals, not businesses.
📌 Corporate income tax accounts for only 18.8%, indicating that large enterprises benefit from tax incentives.

🔹 Spending: Education is a priority, healthcare is neglected
📌 Total regional budget – 795.6 billion tenge, but only 2.9% is allocated to healthcare, which is alarming for an industrial region with high pollution levels.
📌 35.7% of the budget goes to education, making it one of the highest allocations in the country.

📢 Karaganda Region is a major industrial hub, but its reliance on state funding and weak tax base raise concerns about its long-term financial stability.

📢 EcONomyKZ Commentary – Subscribe to our Telegram channel for key updates on Kazakhstan’s and global socio-economic trends!

Read the full article on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=14013&lang=en

📊 Kazakhstan’s Industry in 2025: Growth or Decline?

🏭 Industrial Production Index (IPI): 102.3%
📈 Key Growth Drivers:
⚙ Manufacturing +3.7%
🛢 Mining +1.3%

📌 Total Industrial Output: 4.4 trillion KZT
🔹 Mining Industry – 2.1 trillion KZT (48.1%)
🔹 Manufacturing Industry – 1.9 trillion KZT (43.2%)

📊 Growing Sectors:
🛢 Coal production +16.7%
⚒ Metal ore extraction +6.7%
🥤 Beverages +19.7%
🚗 Machine building +13.3%
🍫 Tobacco products +14.9%
🛠 Metal products manufacturing +8%

📉 Declining Sectors:
⚡ Electricity production –2.2%
🌍 Gas supply –0.7%
🚮 Waste management –10.7%

📍 Top Regions for Industrial Growth:
🏅 Zhambyl Region +22.1%
🏅 North Kazakhstan Region +21.8%
🏅 East Kazakhstan Region +20.3%

📉 Regions Facing Decline:
⛔ Atyrau Region –19.7%
⛔ Abai Region –9.7%
⛔ Turkistan Region –2.8%

📢 Comment from EcONomyKZ – Stay updated on industrial trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13725&lang=en

📢 Kazakhstan: What’s Missing in the Development of Creative Industries?

For Kazakhstan’s creative industries to grow successfully, the roles of development centers and hubs must be clearly defined. While other countries have already built effective systems, in Kazakhstan, the difference between these two structures is still unclear.

🔹 Creative Industry Development Centers focus on strategy and funding. They manage budgets, create educational programs, shape government policies, and help creative projects enter international markets.

🔹 Creative Hubs are spaces for work and collaboration. These hubs bring together creative professionals and startups, providing them with resources, training programs, networking opportunities, and event spaces to bring their ideas to life.

📊 International experience shows:
✅ In Russia, the Creative Economy Development Center supports businesses and educational initiatives.
✅ In South Korea, the Korea Creative Content Agency funds startups and helps them expand globally.
✅ In Indonesia, the Creative Economy Agency develops national strategies and supports creative spaces.

💰 What does Kazakhstan need?
📌 A structured funding system within the national budget (EBK). This model would allow development centers to manage hubs, ensuring proper financial distribution and long-term growth for the creative industries.

📢 EcONomyKZ Comment: Stay updated and subscribe to our Telegram channel for expert insights!

Read the full expert opinion of Dina Abdrakhmet, founder of the Creative Initiatives Fund, on our website: https://economykz.org/?p=13975&lang=en

📌 Pavlodar Region: A Strong Industrial Base, But Still Reliant on Transfers

Pavlodar Region is one of Kazakhstan’s biggest industrial hubs. It has large factories and power plants, yet 35% of its budget comes from government transfers. Why is an industrial powerhouse still dependent on external funding?

🔹 Population: Cities Are Growing, Villages Are Emptying
The region has 753 933 residents, with 70.7% living in cities like Pavlodar, Ekibastuz, and Aksu. While urban areas are expanding, rural districts are losing people and investment. Young people are leaving, and local development is slowing down.

🔹 Finances: Industry Produces, But a Third of the Budget Comes from Transfers
📌 Total regional revenue: 568.3 billion tenge, but 34.9% comes from state support.
📌 225.1 billion tenge is generated in Pavlodar, while other districts lag behind: Bayanaul – 3.5 billion, Pavlodar District – 2.3 billion.

🔹 Taxes: Who Pays the Most?
📌 The region collects 355.7 billion tenge in taxes, but 36.4% comes from excise duties (129.6 billion tenge) – mostly from fuel and alcohol sales.
📌 Corporate taxes make up only 9.6% of total revenues, which is 3.8 times lower than personal income tax payments. This means that businesses contribute very little, while the financial burden falls mainly on individuals.

🔹 Budget Spending: Healthcare Lacks Funding
📌 40% of the budget goes to education, but only 3.4% is allocated to healthcare.
📌 In a heavily industrialized region with serious environmental concerns, this low healthcare spending is alarming.

📢 Conclusion: Pavlodar Region is an industrial powerhouse, but financially unstable.

If things don’t change, the region risks becoming just a collection of factories without people, businesses, or long-term prospects.

📢 EcONomyKZ Commentary: Follow our Telegram channel for key updates on Kazakhstan and global socio-economic trends!

Read the full article on our website:
https://economykz.org/?p=13958&lang=en

📢 How Green Is Kazakhstan’s State Budget? 🌱💰

While many countries actively integrate climate factors into budget planning, Kazakhstan is just beginning this journey. In 2023, only 4.9% of state expenditures were linked to climate goals, with the so-called “net climate budget” accounting for just 3.2%.

📊 Key Insights:
▪️ Climate-related spending has increased 1.4 times over the past five years, but remains low.
▪️ Budget planning does not consider environmental factors – projects are financed without assessing their impact on nature.
▪️ Unlike Europe, Kazakhstan has no climate budgeting system. For example, in Austria, every budget dollar is evaluated for its environmental impact.

⚠️ Major Challenges:
❌ Government spending is not aligned with climate goals.
❌ Infrastructure projects do not prioritize energy efficiency.
❌ No system for tracking climate-related funding.

💡 What Needs to Change?
✔ Introduce a climate budgeting system.
✔ Invest in sustainable infrastructure and energy efficiency.
✔ Develop standardized climate expenditure tracking.

📊 Is Kazakhstan ready to make its budget truly green?
Read the full analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research at https://economykz.org/?p=13933&lang=en

📢 North Kazakhstan Region: Stagnation or a Chance for Growth? 📊🏗️

The region remains one of the most budget-dependent in Kazakhstan, with 74.5% of its revenue coming from government transfers. Urbanization is low, business is struggling, and young people are leaving in large numbers.

📊 Key Challenges:
▪️ Weak economy – without government funding, the regional budget could collapse.
▪️ Population decline – young people are leaving, and villages are becoming empty.
▪️ Low tax revenue – businesses contribute only 10.9% of taxes.
▪️ Poor infrastructure – problems with roads, transport, and healthcare.

⚠️ Main Risks:
❌ If state funding is reduced, the region will not be able to sustain itself.
❌ There is no clear strategy for economic recovery – growth is stagnant.
❌ Unfavorable conditions for business – administrative barriers and low demand hinder development.

💡 What Needs to Be Done?
✔ Develop entrepreneurship and attract investments.
✔ Encourage people to stay in the region.
✔ Revise budget priorities and invest in infrastructure.

📊 Can the region achieve an economic breakthrough?
Read the full analysis at https://economykz.org/?p=13906&lang=en

📊 Kazakhstan’s Transport Sector: Growth, Challenges, and Future Prospects

🚛 Cargo transportation: +18.2%, reaching 90.3 million tons.
📈 Cargo turnover: +13.8%, reaching 45.9 billion ton-km.

📌 Key Trends:
🚆 Rail cargo turnover +9.7%
🚚 Road freight transport +73.9%
🛢 Pipeline transportation +15.7%
🧳 Passenger transportation: +15.4% (143.2 million people)

📊 Regional Leaders in Growth:
🏙 Almaty +54.9%
🏙 Astana +40.6%
🏙 Shymkent +35.7%
🏙 Pavlodar region +35.6%

⚠ Regions Facing Declines:
⛔ Turkestan region –10.4%
⛔ North Kazakhstan region –7.5%

✈ Air Transport: passenger volume -5.7% 🛑 – potential issues with high ticket prices and accessibility.

⚡ Key Challenges:
🔻 Infrastructure bottlenecks 🚧
🔻 Skilled labor shortages 👷‍♂️
🔻 Environmental concerns 🌍

🎯 Future Prospects:
✔ Freight transportation to keep growing due to exports
✔ Road transport will remain the key driver
✔ Air transport needs government support for passenger growth
✔ Rail sector requires investment in modernization 🚆

📢 Comment from Ec[ON]omyKZ – Stay updated on key economic trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13624&lang=en

📊 Growth in Kazakhstan’s Construction Sector: Trends, Challenges, and Future Outlook

🏗 Construction Volume: +12.7%, reaching 140.5 billion tenge.
📈 Key Growth Drivers:
🏢 Non-residential buildings +42.2%
🚆 Infrastructure projects +15%
🏠 Residential construction –26.9% 📉

📌 Key Trends:
🏗 Private developers lead – 81.6% of construction
🌍 Foreign contractors – 17.8%
🏛 Government projects – only 0.6%
🚧 Infrastructure projects – 17.6% of total work
📊 Regional Growth:
🏙 Shymkent +290.1% | Mangystau +265.5% | Akmola +232.1%

⚠ Major Challenges:
🔻 Shortage of skilled labor 👷‍♂️ – lack of engineers and project managers
🔻 Rising construction material costs 📈 – +18.4% increase
🔻 Declining residential construction 🏠 – high interest rates impacting demand

🎯 Future Prospects:
✔ Continued growth in infrastructure projects backed by government funding
✔ Potential subsidies and tax incentives to boost housing construction
✔ Revisions in urban planning regulations to support sustainable development

📢 Comment from Ec[ON]omyKZ – Stay informed on construction industry trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13707&lang=en

📢 Kostanay Region: Between Transfers and Self-Sufficiency 📊💰

Kostanay Region remains dependent on government funding, with 63.9% of its revenue coming from state transfers. Without these funds, many districts would struggle financially.

📊 Key Issues:
▪️ Uneven urbanization – Kostanay and Rudny are developing, while rural areas are losing population.
▪️ Weak tax base – businesses contribute only 18.2% of tax revenue, leaving most of the burden on individuals.
▪️ Budget spending – 35.5% goes to education, but only 2.2% is allocated to healthcare.

⚠️ Main Challenges:
❌ Heavy reliance on the national budget.
❌ Slow growth of the private sector.
❌ Ongoing depopulation of rural areas.

💡 What Needs to Be Done?
✔ Create better conditions for businesses and ease the tax burden.
✔ Invest in rural areas to prevent further decline.
✔ Reallocate budget priorities, increasing funding for healthcare.

https://economykz.org/?p=13843&lang=en

📊 Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan: Key Statistics and Trends

🏢 Total Registered Legal Entities: 536 677
📈 Active Businesses: 426 867
🛍 Individual Entrepreneurs: 1 718 306

📌 Top Industries for Business Growth:
🔹 Wholesale and Retail Trade – 27.2%
🏗 Construction – 13.3%
💼 Services – 10%
➡ These three sectors make up 50.5% of all registered businesses.

📊 Growth Over the Last Decade:
📅 Legal Entities Increased by 48.8% (2015–2024)
🏢 Medium-Sized Enterprises in 2025: 6 919 (+347 vs. 2024)
⏳ However, growth remains slow and inconsistent

📍 Best Regions for Business:
🏙 Almaty – 151 954 (28.3%)
🏙 Astana – 103 967 (19.4%)
🏙 Shymkent – 29 263 (5.5%)
🔻 Lowest Business Activity:
📍 Ulytau (2 922), Zhetisu (8 355), Abai (8 482).

🌍 Foreign-Owned Businesses: 59 695
📌 Top Foreign Investors – Russia, Uzbekistan, China, Turkey
📉 Joint Ventures Declined by 2%
📈 Foreign-Owned Companies Operate Mostly In:
✔ Wholesale and Retail Trade – 36%
✔ Services – 13.7%
✔ Construction – 9.1%

⚠ Key Challenges Facing Businesses:
❌ Regulatory Barriers – Bureaucratic complexity
❌ Limited Access to Financing – SME loans remain difficult to obtain
❌ Skilled Labor Shortages – Manufacturing & high-tech industries lack specialists

📢 Commentary from Ec[ON]omyKZ – Stay informed on Kazakhstan’s business trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13759&lang=en

📢 West Kazakhstan Region: Oil-Rich but Not Independent 🛢️📊

West Kazakhstan is a strategic oil-producing region, yet 60.4% of its revenue comes from government transfers. Business development remains weak, and the tax base is heavily dependent on individuals rather than companies.

📊 Key Issues:
▪️ Oral is the only developed city, while other districts are losing population.
▪️ Small and medium businesses are struggling – corporate tax revenue makes up just 15%.
▪️ Healthcare funding is only 2.7%, forcing residents to seek treatment in other regions.

⚠️ Main Challenges:
❌ The region generates income, but most tax revenue goes to the central government.
❌ Entrepreneurs lack support and incentives.
❌ The gap between urban and rural areas is widening.

https://economykz.org/?p=13775&lang=en

📢 Zhambyl Region: Dependent on Transfers, but Lacking Growth 📊💰

Zhambyl Region receives 74.4% of its revenue from the national budget, while private business remains underdeveloped. This makes the region heavily reliant on government transfers, which cannot last forever.

📊 Key Facts:
▪️ Population – 1.22 million people, with 56.6% living in rural areas, where economic growth opportunities are limited.
▪️ Regional budget – 728 billion KZT, with 47.2% allocated to education, 16% to utilities, and only 2.7% to healthcare.
▪️ Weak tax base – 39.2% of tax revenue comes from individuals, while businesses contribute only 11.3%.

⚠️ Main Challenges:
❌ The region relies on transfers instead of generating its own income.
❌ Business development is slow – there are few large enterprises.
❌ Lack of jobs in rural areas is driving population outflow.

💡 What Needs to Be Done?
✔ Attract investments and develop non-resource industries.
✔ Create better conditions for businesses, including lower tax burdens.
✔ Increase healthcare funding to improve the quality of life.

📢 Commentary from Ec[ON]omyKZ – Stay updated on key economic trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13646&lang=en

📊 Investment Growth and Regional Disparities

💰 Total Fixed Capital Investments: 807.1 billion tenge (+0.2% YoY).
📈 Regional Differences:
🔼 Aktobe +88.9% | Zhetysu +82.1% | Turkistan +74.9%
🔽 Ulytau –55.2% | Kostanay –51.4% | Atyrau –49.3%

📌 Where Is the Money Coming From?
🏭 Businesses’ own funds – 70.5% (568.8 billion KZT)
🏛 Government funding – surged 5.7 times (16.2%)
🏦 Bank loans – just 3.9% 📉

⚙ Investment Breakdown by Sector:
🛢 Industry – 43.1% (Mining – 27.1%, Manufacturing – 9.4%)
🏢 Real Estate – 20.8%
🚆 Transport & Logistics – 10.7%
🏥 Healthcare – 3.4%, 🧑‍🔬 R&D – 0.5%

⚠ Major Challenges:
🔻 Rising Government Dependency 💸 – private investment remains weak
🔻 Widening Regional Disparities 🌍 – capital concentrated in a few regions
🔻 Limited Bank Involvement 🏦 – weak credit access for businesses
🔻 Overreliance on Extractive Industries 🛢 – lack of economic diversification

📢 Comment from Ec[ON]omyKZ – Stay updated on key economic trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13674&lang=en

📊 Kazakhstan’s Labor Market: Current Situation and Future Trends

🔹 Employment: 65% of individuals aged 15+ are employed, but structural shifts are ongoing.

📌 Employment Structure:
👷‍♂️ 9.2 million employed (76.6% salaried, 23.4% self-employed)
📊 Top 4 sectors:
• 🏪 Trade – 16.8%
• 🎓 Education – 13.1%
• 🏭 Industry – 12.5%
• 🌾 Agriculture – 10.6%

🛑 Unemployment – 4.6%, but with concerning trends:
📈 Officially registered unemployed – 191,900 people
📊 Youth unemployment (15-34 years) – 3.3%
⚠ 36,200 people are jobless but not actively seeking work

⚡ Major Challenges:
🔻 Low labor mobility 🚇
🔻 Growth of informal employment 📉
🔻 Skilled labor shortages 🏗
🔻 Automation & digitalization 🤖

🎯 What Needs to Be Done?
✔ Modernize the education system
✔ Promote new employment opportunities
✔ Strengthen retraining & government support

📢 Comment from EcONomyKZ – Stay updated on key economic trends!

https://economykz.org/?p=13608&lang=en

📢 Atyrau Region: Oil – Wealth or a Trap? 🛢️📊

Atyrau Region is the heart of Kazakhstan’s oil industry. 87% of its budget comes from oil companies, but this doesn’t guarantee sustainable development. The local economy depends on global oil prices, while the social sector remains underfunded.

📊
▪️ 704 074 people live in the region, 55% in cities.
▪️ Total revenue — 898.8 billion KZT, with 87% coming from oil corporations.
▪️ Business contributes only 7.7% of tax revenues, while the main burden falls on individuals.

⚠️ Main Challenges:
❌ Huge economic gap between districts – Zhylyoi District collects 45 times more tax per capita than Kyzylkoginsky District.
❌ Weak social support – Only 2.2% of the budget is allocated to healthcare, despite serious environmental risks.
❌ Lack of economic diversification – The region relies almost entirely on oil, with little development in other industries.

💡 What Needs to Change?
✔️ Develop new industries, including manufacturing, processing, and small businesses.
✔️ Increase investment in social infrastructure and healthcare.
✔️ Support entrepreneurship and reduce administrative barriers.

📊 What’s next for Atyrau Region? Read the full analysis at https://economykz.org/?p=13590&lang=en