Kazakhstan faces migration challenges as 159,000 people leave the country since 2019Since 2019, Kazakhstan has seen 159,000 people permanently leave the country, with 73% of them being of working age, including 30% skilled professionals in technical, economic, and educational fields, according to a report by the ruling Amanat party."The majority of the outflow, approximately 105,000 people, has been from the northern, central, and eastern regions of Kazakhstan, with 80% of emigrants relocating to countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)," according to a statement from the Republican Council on Economy, Digitalization and Innovation Development of the AMANAT party.Meanwhile, internal migration within Kazakhstan has increased in 2024, with more than 1.5 million people moving. The main destinations for relocation remain the country’s major cities: 151,000 people moved to Astana, 129,000 to Almaty, and 687,000 to Shymkent. However, the northern, central, and eastern regions continue to lose population.At a recent meeting of the Republican Council on Economics, Digitalization, and Innovation, Council Chair and Majilis Deputy Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva pointed out that this demographic imbalance directly affects the labor market. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has developed a labor market regulation concept that takes into account regional specifics. However, Smyshlyaeva emphasized that without a comprehensive approach, population redistribution across regions will not happen.Smyshlyaeva noted that the lack of infrastructure in Kazakhstan’s less populated northern and eastern regions is a key factor behind the migration trends. “Programs aimed at addressing regional disparities have focused on investing in the more densely populated areas. As a result, northern and eastern Kazakhstan have less developed infrastructure, making relocation from the south to the north less attractive,” Smyshlyaeva said. “Without roads, schools, hospitals, and affordable housing, people are unwilling to move, and without a population influx, infrastructure won’t improve,” she added.The government offers several support measures for migrants, including one-time payments of 70 MRP (monthly calculation indicator) per family member for relocation, as well as subsidies for housing rental and utility costs. Migrants can also receive certificates that allow them to pay up to 50% of the cost of housing, up to 4.5 million tenge, or use the certificate to build their own home.Experts also stressed that migration support programs should avoid discrimination and ensure that the needs of both migrants and local residents in small towns are met to prevent social tensions.Since the launch of the state program for productive employment and mass entrepreneurship development in 2017, 59,600 people have moved to resettlement areas, with 3,600 returning (6%). Of the 27,000 working-age participants, 2,000 have started their own businesses, 19,000 have been employed in permanent positions, and 347 in temporary roles.The council also emphasized the importance of addressing border regions as part of an open migration system. Southern Kazakhstan is considered overpopulated compared to other regions, but its population density is nine times lower than the eastern part of Uzbekistan. In northern Kazakhstan, population outflow is a trend also seen in Russia, where migration from Siberia and the Urals to central and southern regions is common. To prevent similar trends, comprehensive development of northern and eastern Kazakhstan is necessary.Another significant concern is the outflow of Kazakh students to neighboring countries, which threatens the future workforce. Smyshlyaeva emphasized the role of education in migration trends, noting that neighboring countries attract not only skilled workers but also students. "Schoolchildren from border areas often move to neighboring countries for education, to work there afterward. Kazakhstan needs to establish more branches of international universities and integrate them into migration processes. Special attention should be given to developing universities and colleges in border regions, creating modern educational programs, and improving conditions for youth education," Smyshlyaeva said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX