Output and Employment Performance of Primary Sector: Evidence from Post-Soviet Kazakhstan

Abstract

The paper evaluates the performance of primary sector of Kazakhstan economy from output and employment perspective since independence. To evaluate the economic performance of primary sector average growth rate (AGR), average annual growth rate (AAGR) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) have been calculated at decadal end points and for whole period of 28 years. The primary sector of Kazakhstan has played an important role in its growth trajectory but its contribution to both output and employment has declined over the years. Primary sector output share has declined from 9.59% in 1991 to 5.07% in 2018, while the share of primary sector employment has declined from 41.50% in 1991 to 17.90% in 2018, thus showing a decline of 23.60%. A major decline in employment contribution of primary sector has taken place in the last two decades and can be attributed to economic diversification and structural transformation that has taken place over the period of time.