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Freelancing as a factor in the transformation of self-employment of rural youth of the Republic of Kazakhstan

https://doi.org/10.46666/2025-3.2708-9991.18

Abstract

The article considers freelancing as an important resource for increasing the economic activity of rural youth, which contributes not only to reducing unemployment, but also to the formation of a new culture of work based on the principles of flexibility, digital mobility and creativity.

The goal is to identify the impact of freelance services on the transformation of forms of self-employment among young professionals in the regions of Kazakhstan.

Methods - quantitative and graphical analysis when determining the number of potential freelancers among young rural residents who are independently employed by the level of education, methods of involvement in labor activity, as well as indicators of lack of employment in the youth environment in rural areas.

Results - theoretical and methodological approaches to the implementation of freelance employment aimed at preserving the Labor potential of young people and improving the efficiency of the sector of individual entrepreneurs were studied. The prerequisites, barriers and prospects for the development of freelance in rural areas were analyzed, as well as its role in reducing the economically inactive population and migration of the youth contingent to cities. The scale of young self-employed employees in the Republic was assessed, new trends in the expansion of the freelance services industry in the context of technological modernization, positioned as a tool for increasing employment and income, were shown.

Conclusions - on the basis of dissemination and digitalization, measures were proposed to effectively use the potential reserves of young self-employed individuals in rural areas. The mechanism of their reorientation to the sphere of individual labor practice is substantiated. Promising forms of labor relations have been proposed in the rural labor market that contribute to productive employment of young independent personnel, employment of unemployed rural residents and reduction of the number of low-skilled youth working outside institutional structures, as well as taking into account regional characteristics, the scale of digital transformation, internet access and in-demand freelance skills.

About the Authors

Ch. Akimbekova
Kazakh Research Institute of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development
Kazakhstan

Akimbekova Chulpan – the main author; Doctor of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor; Head of the Department of Rural Development,

050057 Satpayev str., 30-b, Almaty



K. Meirman
JSC «Kazakh Invest»
Kazakhstan

Meirman Kanat - Master of Economics; Regional director,

050008 Tekstilnaya str., 76, Almaty



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For citations:


Akimbekova Ch., Meirman K. Freelancing as a factor in the transformation of self-employment of rural youth of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Problems of AgriMarket. 2025;(3):203-215. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.46666/2025-3.2708-9991.18

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ISSN 1817-728X (Print)
ISSN 2708-9991 (Online)