GENDER FACTORS IN THE LABOR MARKET OF KAZAKHSTAN IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of gender factors in the labor market of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of global transformations of international relations, using comparative and institutional approaches. The relevance of the topic is driven by the increasing role of gender equality as an element of the global normative agenda, as well as the growing influence of international institutions on the formation of national employment policy in the context of economic diversification and the country’s integration into the global community.

The authors examine the impact of international standards and practices developed within the frameworks of the United Nations, International Labor Organization, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development on the transformation of the gender structure of Kazakhstan’s labor market. Based on statistical and comparative analysis, key trends in women’s participation in the national economy are identified, as well as persistent imbalances, including the gender pay gap and sectoral employment segregation.

Particular attention is paid to comparing the Kazakhstani model with international practices. The article identifies the main institutional models of gender policy – Scandinavian, continental European, Anglo-American, East Asian, Singaporean pragmatic, and Chinese state-industrial – and analyzes their key characteristics in terms of achieving gender parity. The analysis reveals that a high level of women’s participation in the economy does not always lead to a reduction in inequality, as evidenced by both European and Asian experiences.

The study reveals institutional and sociocultural constraints hindering the achievement of gender equality in Kazakhstan and substantiates the specificity of the national model, which combines elements of both European and Asian approaches.