Kazakhstan firms cut 1,000+ office jobs as AI reshapes workforce
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Kazakhstan's largest state-owned companies have begun cutting administrative staff, with over 1,000 office jobs eliminated as artificial intelligence automates clerical tasks. Kazakhtelecom plans to reduce its office workforce from 8,000 to 3,000 within three years, while Samruk-Kazyna and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy have already cut hundreds of positions. The moves reflect a broader shift in the labor market, even as demand for manual workers rises.
Kazakhtelecom's AI-Driven Restructuring
Kazakhtelecom chairman Bagdat Musin announced plans to cut office staff from 8,000 to 3,000 over two to three years, citing AI as the primary driver. He stated that one employee skilled in digital agents can now perform tasks that previously required a full team. The company will not reduce manual workers such as cable installers and technicians, whom Musin described as the next generation of millionaires. The cuts will be gradual, achieved through attrition, reduced hiring, and natural turnover rather than mass layoffs.
Samruk-Kazyna and KEGOC Cuts
In spring 2026, Samruk-Kazyna announced the elimination of 729 administrative positions in Astana, representing 11% of its management staff. The average salary of affected employees was 762,000 tenge per month, and the cuts are expected to save about 5 billion tenge over nine months. At Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, 221 administrative workers (10.5% of the total) were laid off, including 14 managers, saving 2.2 billion tenge annually. KEGOC and its subsidiary Energoinform cut 39 positions. All companies offered compensation and, where possible, alternative jobs within the group.
What's Next
The full impact of AI on Kazakhstan's office workforce will unfold over the next two to three years as companies continue restructuring. It remains unclear how many of the displaced workers will find new jobs or require retraining, and whether the trend will accelerate beyond the state sector.
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Kazakhstan firms cut 1,000+ office jobs as AI reshapes workforce
