Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed the ministries of industry, energy, transport, agriculture, and water resources to collaborate with enterprises, akimats, and Otbasy Bank to develop a plan for launching subsidized mortgage and rental housing programs for skilled workers, reports a correspondent from the business information center Kapital.kz.
“Skilled workers are the main productive force of the economy. Modern workers manage high-tech equipment and automated systems. This requires a continuous process of skill enhancement and the development of intellectual, digital, and personal competencies. We need thousands of qualified workers. New specialties emerge every year,” the Prime Minister stated.
To forecast future skills and competencies, all akimats must create regional job atlases.
“Currently, only nine regions have such documents. To enable informed choices by young people regarding skilled professions, new approaches in career guidance must be implemented. A model of interaction between schools, colleges, and enterprises should be established, so that future specialists can see their professional prospects. For this, the Ministry of Education needs to effectively transform the field of technical and vocational education,” emphasized Olzhas Bektenov.
New specialists must be in demand in the market. The government has already doubled funding for college education. New educational programs are being introduced that meet international requirements. Additionally, a competence center is planned to be established in collaboration with the Akimat of Astana.
“At the same time, measures must also be taken by businesses, employers, and investors. The ‘Samruk-Kazyna’ fund should be more actively involved in this work. It is necessary to promote the best corporate practices for social support of skilled workers, and to expand and introduce new incentives for them,” the Prime Minister noted.
According to him, another important direction is to conduct a large-scale information campaign explaining the significance of skilled professions for the country’s economy.
“This is a task for the Ministry of Culture and Information in collaboration with sectoral ministries, associations, and trade unions. In general, interested state bodies, akimats, national companies, and enterprises need to ensure the effective implementation of sectoral and regional plans for the Year of Skilled Professions. All activities should be systematic, result-oriented, and have a long-term socio-economic effect. The government will keep the issues related to the Year of Skilled Professions under constant control,” concluded Olzhas Bektenov.