Women's Salaries are 21.7% Lower than Men's in Kazakhstan

The Bureau of National Statistics has explained that the gender pay gap has decreased by almost four per cent over the past two years.

In 2021, the average wage for women was 220,160 KZT. It was 281,239 KZT for men.

The gender gap was 25% in 2020 according to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

It turned out that in 2021, the workforce aged 15 years and older amounted to 9.3 million people or 69.3% of the total population.

8.8 million people are employed in various sectors of the economy. 48.3% of them are women.

The proportion of men among the self-employed is slightly higher - 54.4% compared to 45.6%. The gap in Kazakhstani women's salaries and Kazakhstanis amounted to 21.7% in 2021.

"Wage differences differ depending on the work performed and the types of economic activity of enterprises,"

Researchers who conducted the study

At the same time, the maximum amount of remuneration was noted in the mining industry and quarrying – 503,930 KZT. The minimum was in agriculture, forestry and fisheries – 150,705 KZT. More men tend to work in these industries.

Women are less represented in the agricultural sector (42.2%), industry (31.1%) and construction (22.8%). They, however, are the majority in trade (57.1%), provision of accommodation and food services (65.4%), education (72.9%), healthcare and social services (73%).

According to the Bureau, 7.4 million people or 83.5% of the employed population have higher and secondary vocational education. At the same time, women are more skilled workers. 41.4% have a high level of education.

As for the unemployed, their number by the end of 2021 amounted to 449.6 thousand. Slightly more than half of them are women – 55.1%. Female unemployment (5.5%) still exceeds unemployment among men (4.2%).

Original Author: Gulnara Egemberdieva