Central Bank reports sharp increase in job seekers across Uzbekistan

The number of active resumes increased by 31.5% year-on-year to 636,000 during the January–March period. The regulator said the rapid growth in the supply of job seekers has intensified competition for vacancies while also contributing to faster wage growth.

The Central Bank noted that employment continued to expand steadily in recent quarters, with most new jobs created in the services sector. Financial and insurance activities, professional and technical services, as well as administrative and support services accounted for the largest share of employment growth.

According to the analysis, rising employment in these industries reflects the continued development of market infrastructure and growing demand for new areas of economic activity. At the same time, the decline in agricultural employment indicates that labor resources are gradually shifting to other sectors of the economy.

Employment also continued to grow steadily in industry and trade, driven primarily by the private sector. While state-owned enterprises continued to contribute positively, their overall impact remained relatively limited.

Vacancy growth rebounds in March

Labor market activity remained strong during the first quarter despite a temporary decline in vacancies at the beginning of the year.

The number of job openings fell by 4.5% year-on-year in January and by 6.5% in February. However, hiring activity recovered significantly in March, when employers posted a total of 15,400 vacancies, up 9.8% compared with the same month of 2025.

Demand for workers remained strongest in the services sector and retail trade. Employment in construction continued to be influenced by seasonal factors, although labor demand in the sector increased during the quarter. Employers in manufacturing and the food service industry also stepped up recruitment.

The Central Bank said alternative data sources likewise indicate that the number of vacancies in Uzbekistan continues to increase. At the same time, growth in the labor supply has been significantly outpacing the growth in demand for workers.

Unemployment remains low

According to the Central Bank, Uzbekistan's unemployment rate stood at 4.8% at the end of 2025.

Business surveys conducted in the first quarter of 2026 showed that employers maintained positive hiring expectations. The share of companies expecting to increase employment rose in the services and trade sectors, while hiring expectations in industry remained stable.

"The survey results indicate that demand in the labor market remains resilient and that businesses continue to have positive expectations regarding economic activity," the Central Bank said.

Wage growth remains strong

The report also found that wage levels continue to vary considerably across industries, although salaries are rising steadily throughout the economy.

The fastest wage growth was recorded in financial and insurance services, transportation and storage, and other service industries, largely reflecting strong demand for labor. Wage growth in retail trade and the food service sector remained comparatively stable.

During the first quarter of 2026, nominal average wages increased by 17.4% year-on-year, while real wages rose by 9.5%.

Migration patterns continue to shift

A total of 1.63 million Uzbek citizens traveled abroad during the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 11.6% compared with the same period a year earlier.

During January–March, about 1.34 million Uzbek citizens worked in Russia under the country's patent-based employment system. That figure was 8.8% lower than in the previous quarter and 1.8% below the level recorded a year earlier.

The Central Bank attributed the decline in labor migration to Russia to seasonal factors and changing conditions in foreign labor markets. It also noted that more Uzbek workers are choosing other destinations.

The number of official work permits issued for Uzbekistan's citizens in Turkey reached 70,000 in the first quarter, up 14% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the number of Uzbek nationals residing in South Korea continued to increase steadily, reaching 99,600 by the end of the quarter.