Young people choose blue-collar professions, while AI changes labor market and puts office jobs at risk

Kazakhstan’s labor market is undergoing a gradual transformation due to Artificial intelligence. It means that blue-collar professions’ stability and resilience against AI disruption make them increasingly popular with Generation Z, while office and administrative roles encounter higher automation risks.
Employment trends also face a strong AI impact.
As the country’s center for human resource development reports, it is possible to automate approximately 13% of work tasks in Kazakhstan or around one million jobs in the long term. The most vulnerable ones are office support and administrative positions, where AI can potentially perform up to 45% of tasks. Opposingly, such sectors as construction, machine operation, electrical work, and transport are among the least affected. As Inbusiness reported on Nov. 13, automation can affect less than 2% of tasks there.
According to Kazakh Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, AI typically transforms job functions rather than eliminates them. Due to that, employees can focus on complex creative tasks and enhance productivity.
Blue-collar work becomes popular with generation Z.
Young workers’ preference for skilled trades has become a noticeable trend. The first reason is that they perceive these roles as more secure in the context of automation. The second one is higher returns on vocational training. Meeting steady market demand is the third reason.
This trend is also confirmed by international research. Forbes reports that 37% of Generation Z are already working or planning to work in skilled trades. According to the New York Post, 42% of Generation Z are pursuing blue-collar jobs, including those with a college degree. Low starting salaries in office jobs and the desire to avoid student debt made them do it.
Nevertheless, there is a gradual automation in Kazakhstan.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection reports that wage and cost considerations slow down automation in Kazakhstan in comparison with high-income countries. Finance, telecommunications, transportation, and digital services will be among the most affected sectors. At the same time, such initiatives as the Atlas of New Professions and Competencies, including roles in robotics, digital ethics, and advanced technologies, support new professions.
So, the county takes support measures.
According to Kazakh legislation, employers must notify career centers of planned layoffs at least one month in advance. If automation affects workers, they receive state support in form of vocational retraining, employment promotion programs, and social benefits. As the ministry underlines, the government is committed to promote proactive employment policies. They hope that flexible learning, career guidance, and individualized retraining will help citizens adapt to new realities of the labour market.

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