In a briefing held at the Senate, Yerbol Tuyakbayev, the First Vice-Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan, announced that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially lead to the elimination of 300,000 to 400,000 jobs within the next decade. This projection is based on ongoing research by the Center for Labor Resource Development, which monitors the impact of automation and digital transformation on the national labor market.

The ministry's analysis suggests that the sectors most vulnerable to AI-driven displacement are those involving repetitive tasks and routine data processing. Administrative assistants, accountants, and legal clerks are identified as the primary groups facing significant job losses. As AI technologies become increasingly capable of handling complex computations and legal documentation, the requirement for human intervention in secondary support roles is expected to decline substantially.

To mitigate these risks, the Kazakh government is implementing comprehensive retraining programs designed to help workers transition into more sustainable career paths. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 186,000 individuals have participated in professional development courses to acquire new skills aligned with current economic demands. Officials emphasized that while digital automation is rising, there remains a persistent and high demand for specialized technical and vocational labor across various industries.

Previous strategic reports indicated that the long-term impact of AI could eventually affect over one million employees nationwide. However, the current governmental focus is on leveraging technology to improve overall productivity while ensuring that the workforce is adequately prepared for a technologically advanced future. The shift toward a digital-first economy is seen as an essential step for maintaining global competitiveness and fostering innovation in Kazakhstan’s evolving labor landscape.