Findings of the study on сauses and consequences of women's economic inactivity and their engagement in the informal economy of Kazakhstan

In the period of economic transformation, women have been the most vulnerable part of the population. In particular, there was a clear trend in the production sector to separate the two labour markets and push women into the second, socially less prestigious one. We have been witnessing a steady trend of the predominance of women among unemployed citizens.

This study assesses the situation of informal employment of women in the Republic of Kazakhstan (by the example of pilot regions: Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Shymkent cities; East Kazakhstan, Mangistau, Pavlodar, Turkestan oblasts) and identifies existing data gaps (forms of unofficial employment, causes of women's inactivity). Also, it provides an analytical review based on the findings of the study and recommendations that will allow for policy and policy measures to increase the level of decent employment for women and economic opportunities in the field of women's employment in the country, with a focus on unofficially employed women.