Remote work desire strong in Kazakhstan, mirroring global shifts

A growing number of Kazakhstanis want to work remotely, echoing global workforce trends. HeadHunter Central Asia, a leading online recruitment platform in the region, surveyed more than 900 job seekers and employers in Kazakhstan and found that 35% of respondents prefer working from home.

The research highlights that commuting has a direct impact on stress levels, well-being and productivity. Traffic congestion is associated with elevated blood pressure, and long commutes can negatively affect mental health, even contributing to depression.

Only 18% of respondents reported commuting less than 15 minutes on foot. For 34%, the commute takes 15 to 30 minutes by transport, 28% travel 30 to 60 minutes and 21% spend more than an hour each way.

«For every fifth person, that’s almost two hours a day. During that time, you could have breakfast, exercise or meditate,» HeadHunter noted.

Public transport is the most common mode of commuting (41%), followed by private cars (31%). The rest travel by foot, bicycle or taxi.

Only 16% of respondents said they feel comfortable during their commute. The majority admitted the process is stressful, especially when stuck in traffic.

Respondents overwhelmingly said that having an office closer to home would significantly improve their quality of life, allowing them to better manage their time and energy.

When asked about work preferences, 315 respondents said they would prefer to work from home full time, while 297 favored a hybrid setup and 261 preferred working exclusively from the office.

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion, city officials in Astana have proposed staggered business hours. Under the plan, clinics and hospitals would open at 7:30 a.m., national companies at 8:30 a.m. and business centers at 10 a.m.