Kazakhstan changes job seeker registration rules, giving 13 days to find work

Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project setting new approaches to registering job seekers and unemployed people. According to Egemen Qazaqstan, citing a document published on 22 October and effective from 1 October, the new system digitises employment services and significantly simplifies procedures. People without work or income who are looking for suitable employment can apply to register at a local career centre or through the Electronic Labour Exchange platform, consenting to the collection and processing of their personal data. Once documents are verified, they must be registered as job seekers within one working day.

From 1 October 2026, under the pilot, job seekers receive 13 calendar days from registration to be matched with suitable vacancies. During this period the Electronic Labour Exchange selects vacancies automatically, and career centres must help citizens find suitable work. Those not placed within 13 days are automatically registered as unemployed. Certain groups are exempt, including people under 16, employed people, retirees and others listed in Article 99(3) of the Social Code.

Unemployed people who refuse three suitable job offers or fail to respond on time may be removed from the register and must wait 30 calendar days before re-registering. The article notes that the share of young people in Kazakhstan who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) continues to decline.