Today, the Atyrau region stands on the threshold of
large-scale transformation. The economy’s heavy dependence on the oil and gas
sector (around 88% of industrial output) makes diversification and human
capital development strategically critical.
In response to this challenge, the International
Research Complex “Astana” and Astana International University developed the
Regional Workforce Demand Map of the Atyrau Region — a comprehensive study of
the region’s future labor needs.
The Map is not merely a list of professions. It is a
tool that connects the economy, the labor market, and the education system,
enabling government, business, and educational institutions to speak a common
language and providing a foundation for long-term workforce planning.
As part of the project, the research team consisting
of Kuanganov F.Sh., Smagulova Z.K., Sarina B.S., Baltabayev B.Zh., Baybash
G.K., and Lesbayeva G.K. conducted a strategic analysis and examined the
results of the partner institution — Safi Utebayev Atyrau University of Oil and
Gas (foresight sessions, sociological surveys, and professional diagnostics of
school students). The study involved 10,233 students from 101 schools across
the region, ensuring a representative picture of young people’s educational and
career expectations.
The research shows that sustainable regional
development is impossible without transitioning from a resource-based model to
manufacturing, the agro-industrial complex, digitalization and the IT industry,
tourism, and the food industry.
In tourism, new clusters are already emerging — from
ecotourism and wellness destinations to digital and VR solutions for the
hospitality industry. In the agro-industrial sector, key drivers include
bioengineering, precision agriculture, water resource management, and agro-IT.
The Map clearly distinguishes between professions:
emerging professions (1–5 years) (AI specialists, data analysts, VR/AR
developers, agro-IT engineers, aquaponics specialists, sustainability and
environmental experts); transforming professions (traditional roles such as
agronomists, veterinarians, technologists, and guides are shifting toward
working with digital platforms, sensors, analytics, and automated systems); and
declining professions (3–5 years), where a number of specialties are gradually
being displaced by automation, online platforms, and AI — especially in routine
operations and intermediary functions.
One of the key findings of the Workforce Demand Map is
the gap between the labor market and educational programs. This highlights the
need to update educational standards, expand dual and practice-oriented
learning, and introduce micro-credentials and lifelong learning programs.
The final conclusion of the Map is clear: human
capital is becoming the foundation of the region’s new economy. Investments in
education, technology, and future skills are not social expenditures but
strategic investments in the sustainability and competitiveness of the Atyrau
region.
The Workforce Demand Map is a roadmap for the region’s
development toward 2030–2050, where knowledge, adaptability, and the ability to
change play a key role.
The presentation is available via the link below. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ddhSj5hXTv6A64ac-RYDTYLKvIoQ4sr9/view?usp=drive_webb