Abstract
The article addresses the current challenges and prospects for Kazakhstan's economic development in light of the President's goal to double the economy by 2029, requiring a sustainable growth rate of at least 6% per year. It emphasizes the need for structural changes to transition Kazakhstan into the high-income country category. The article notes the slowdown in average annual GDP growth to 4-5% since 2014 and highlights the weak correlation between GDP growth and employment, stressing the importance of increasing labor productivity as a key driver of future economic growth. It also points out the low share of labor income in Kazakhstan's GDP compared to other high-income countries, indicating the need for better working conditions and greater contribution of human resources to the economy. An analysis of socio-economic indicators such as poverty rates, income distribution, and urban-rural disparities highlights the necessity for a comprehensive approach to evaluating the effectiveness of human resource utilization and strategies to support vulnerable groups. The study concludes that structural reforms are needed to improve working conditions, increase labor productivity, and raise labor income's share in GDP to ensure sustainable growth and transition to a high-income economy.