The unemployment rate in Kazakhstan edged down to 4.5% in the first quarter of 2026, following a 4.6% growth in the previous five quarters. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 7.4 thousand year-on-year to 446.1 thousand, while total employment rose by 360.1 thousand to 9.39 million. Hired employment expanded by 149.5 thousand, while self-employment fell by 40.9 thousand. The labor force totaled 9.84 million during the quarter. The employment rate reached 64.1% of the population aged 15 and over, equivalent to 95.5% of the labor force. Youth unemployment (aged 15-34) stood at 3%, slightly down from 3.1% in the previous quarter.