where is the gap smaller in Kazakhstan

The average monthly earnings in Kazakhstan in dollars turned out to be the highest in 30 years, but, of course, there are nuances. The country’s Bureau of National Statistics has provided annual data on pay indicators.

Based on the results of 2023, the average salary was 364.3 thousand tenge. In terms of dollars, it officially reached $798 – just two dollars short of the psychological mark of eight hundred. Nominally, the current level is the highest for the entire period since 1993, which is reflected in the statistics.

The previous maximum was recorded in 2013, when the rate, by the way, had not yet been released into free floating. Then the annual figure in dollars was $717, that is, the current value is 11% higher. But let’s not forget that the dollar has depreciated somewhat since then, experts from the analytical Telegram channel Data Hub of the First Credit Bureau note.

For scale, experts explained: when recalculated by consumer inflation in the “native” US currency, the mentioned $717 in December 2013 is approximately equivalent to $944 in December 2023. This level is still a long way off. But the dynamics look good compared to 2022 – plus 19%. This is the best pace since 2007, although more recently, in 2021, the result was close, +18%.

And a little more about salaries: in which region have we almost achieved gender equality in this area, at least in statistics? In the Zheticu region. According to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the average salary of women in 2023 here was 269 thousand tenge, men – 270 thousand. The gap is only half a percent, and in Kazakhstan as a whole the average female salary is only 74% of men’s.

The gap is especially large in the Atyrau and Mangistau regions, where the indicators for women are approximately two times lower than for men. Here, wages are driven up by a specific sector – the mining industry, where 8 out of 10 workers are men. What about the Zhetisu region? Alas, the reasons for equality here are rather that salaries are generally low: 18th place out of 20 in the ranking of regions, regardless of gender. In terms of men’s indicators, the region is in last place, and in women’s indicators it is in 16th place.

Atyrau region is again the leader in the men’s ranking, and Astana in the women’s ranking. And here the gap between the average resident of the western region and the average resident of the capital is also very large, experts concluded.