Emigration of Youth from Kazakhstan: Strategies to Curb Departure

Let's dive into the latest buzz on "Why?" - Kazakhstan's top talk show - where they tackle the burning issue of brain drain. hosts, experts, and the general public are discussing why so many intelligent, educated, and young Kazakhs are leaving their homeland, and what can be done to retain them.

Here's the skinny on the big question: Natty, Kazakhstan's resident journalist and language expert, sheds light on the reasons for leaving. Unemployment, low wages, and lack of quality higher education top the list. But there's more. Nurbek, a media analyst with a taste for the US, emphasizes that family concerns are a driving force behind emigration. Many young Kazakhs are willing to risk illegally moving to a foreign country for the sake of their children's well-being.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Farkhad, a Kazakhstani gastarbaiter working in South Korea, shares his story. Despite working illegally, he earns five times more than he did back home. However, he longs for his homeland and family. Aigul, a writer who lived in Moscow for seven years, supports these hard-working expats, regretting that they couldn't find decent opportunities in Kazakhstan.

The average salary in Kazakhstan hovers around 220,000 tenge, but experts argue that this number doesn't tell the whole story. Kindergarten workers, for example, earn as little as 50-60,000 tenge per month - the same as an illegal worker in South Korea earns in a day. Erkhanat, host of the show, points out that many akimat workers earn no more than 100,000 tenge a month.

Aigul believes that if the state prioritizes its people and stops wasting money on unnecessary image projects, brain drain would decrease. Nurbek also highlights the lack of faith in the future as a key reason for emigration. He argues that Kazakhstan needs to develop new technologies, create vaccines, and establish institutions where strong scientists can work consistently.

But it's not all about money. According to the International Organization for Migration, every third person leaving the country permanently is an ethnic Kazakh. A quarter of emigrants are young people (aged 15 to 28). The experts agree on common conclusions: young Kazakhs are leaving for education, self-realization, and a better quality of life.

To address this issue, the experts suggest several strategies:

Attracting back Talent: Implement a National Brain Gain Initiative, offer competitive salaries and benefits, and collaborate with top academic institutions.
Developing Talent Locally: Adopt the Talent Portfolio Theory and engage with institutions like Stanford University to adopt cutting-edge strategies for talent development.
Improving Education and Opportunities: Enhance educational quality, invest in STEM education, and offer economic incentives for young professionals and ethnic Kazakhs to establish careers in the country.
Cultural and Economic Incentives: Encourage cultural programs and activities, and provide economic opportunities for young professionals and ethnic Kazakhs to establish careers in the country.
Government and Policy Support: Ensure merit-based and transparent governance and implement policies that encourage retention, such as scholarships, research grants, and opportunities for professional growth.

By putting these measures into action, Kazakhstan can create an environment that encourages its young and educated population to stay and contribute to the country's development. The question remains - will Kazakhstan make the wise choices necessary to keep its most valuable asset, its human capital, within its borders? Tune in to the next episode to find out!

Experts on the talk show discuss that unemployment, low wages, and a lack of quality higher education are among the reasons why many educated and young Kazakhs are migrating.
Nurbek, a media analyst, adds that family concerns are a significant driving force behind Kazakh emigration, with some young Kazakhs willing to risk illegal migration for their children's well-being.
Farkhad, a Kazakhstani gastarbaiter working in South Korea, earns five times more than he did at home, but he misses his homeland and family. Aigul, a writer who lived in Moscow, regrets that hard-working expats like Farkhad couldn't find decent opportunities in Kazakhstan.
Erkhanat, the show's host, points out that despite an average salary of 220,000 tenge, many Kazakhs still struggle, with some workers earning as little as an illegal worker in South Korea does in a day.
To address brain drain, experts suggest implementing a National Brain Gain Initiative, adopting the Talent Portfolio Theory, enhancing educational quality, encouraging cultural programs, and ensuring merit-based governance and policies to attract and retain talent.