In the first quarter of 2026, the number of employed women in Kazakhstan reached 4.53 million people, an increase of 42,600 people compared to the same period in 2025. The majority of working women are employed for hire, with the largest sectors of employment remaining education, trade, and healthcare.
HOW WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT HAS CHANGED
According to data from the Bureau of National Statistics, in the first quarter of 2026 the number of employed women amounted to 4.53 million people. Of these, 3.6 million people (79.6%) were employees, and 925,100 people (20.4%) were self-employed.
The increase in the number of employed women compared to the same quarter last year was 42,600 people, or 0.9%.
IN WHICH SECTORS DO THE MOST WOMEN WORK
The largest number of employed women is concentrated in the following sectors:
- Education — 902,200 people (19.9% of the total number of employed women).
- Wholesale and retail trade — 877,600 people (19.4%).
- Healthcare and social services — 426,300 people (9.4%).
- Industry — 388,100 people (8.6%).
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing — 351,200 people (7.8%).
WHERE THE HIGHEST GROWTH WAS RECORDED
According to the survey, the most notable annual increase in the number of employed women was observed in the real estate sector — 25.7%. Employment also grew in the areas of administrative and support services (21.9%), transport and storage (16.2%), and industry (7.6%).
Among the regions, the highest growth in the number of employed women was recorded in Karaganda Region (7.8%), Aktobe Region (6.5%), the city of Almaty (6.3%), and Turkistan Region (6.1%).
WHERE THE MAJORITY OF WORKING WOMEN LIVE
According to the survey, the number of employed women in urban areas exceeds the figures for rural areas. 3.01 million people work in cities. Data on the number of employed women in rural areas is not specified in the provided materials.
