Kazakhstan transport sector needs 57,000 specialists as Middle Corridor expands

September 9, 2026 at 04:31 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakhstan's transport sector needs around 57,000 specialists as the country expands railways and logistics along the Middle Corridor. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev announced the figure at a government meeting on September 8. The demand spans locomotive drivers, engineers, logistics specialists, and new digital roles.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan's transport sector needs around 57,000 specialists, Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev said on September 8.
Around 870,000 people currently work in the transport sector, nearly one in ten employed people in Kazakhstan.
Digitalization is creating demand for 31 new professions, including AI-assisted air traffic controllers and drone operators.
Kazakhstan's universities and colleges train about 44,000 students in transport-related fields, more than 28,000 on government grants.
The World Bank approved an $846 million guarantee in February to mobilize $1.41 billion for railway development along the Middle Corridor.

Workforce Demand

Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev announced the need for around 57,000 specialists at a government meeting on September 8. The sector currently employs about 870,000 people, nearly one in ten of Kazakhstan's workforce. High-demand roles include locomotive drivers, engineers, technicians, logistics specialists, pilots, air traffic controllers, ship captains, and mechanics. Digitalization is creating demand for 31 new professions across railways, roads, and aviation.

Infrastructure Investment

Kazakhstan occupies the central section of the Middle Corridor, the route connecting China with Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. In February, the World Bank approved an $846 million guarantee to mobilize $1.41 billion in commercial financing for railway development along the corridor. The project includes the 322-kilometer Moyynty-Kyzylzhar railway line, which will shorten the route by 149 kilometers. In January 2026, IFC, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Standard Chartered announced up to $300 million for the electrified railway bypass around Almaty. The bypass is expected to reduce pressure on the Almaty railway junction by more than 40% and cut freight delivery times by up to 24 hours.

Training and Retraining

Kazakhstan's universities and colleges train about 44,000 students in transport-related fields, with more than 28,000 on government-funded grants. The student figure cannot be directly compared with the 57,000 specialist need because students are at different education stages and many jobs require experience. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy operates four regional training centers, laboratories, and training grounds to retrain the existing workforce.