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Abstract

The paper examines the labour-market adaptation of Kazakh repatriates who migrated from Uzbekistan to the Zhetysu region, focusing on everyday practices. The study employs qualitative methods, including ethnographic fieldwork in 2025–2026 and semi-structured interviews, with materials analysed through qualitative data techniques.

The empirical data reveal the labour experiences of ethnic Kazakhs returning to their historical homeland, their strategies for employment, and the role of social ties. Respondents described their first steps in the labour market, methods of job searching, and participation in both formal and informal sectors. Kinship, acquaintanceship, and community networks proved crucial in securing work, while challenges of adaptation required adjusting professional skills to a new socio-economic environment.

Distinctive features of adaptation emerged. Some repatriates sought jobs aligned with their education and training, while others pursued small-scale entrepreneurship. These strategies became mechanisms of integration, strengthening economic and social ties with local communities. Several models of labour-market integration were observed. Given Uzbekistan’s Soviet past, repatriates generally did not face major linguistic or cultural barriers. Some succeeded in finding employment in their specialization due to regional demand, while others turned to entrepreneurship when unable to secure work in their field. In certain cases, specialists employed in their profession received housing support from local authorities.

Social networks established by earlier migrants played a significant role in facilitating entrepreneurial initiatives. Repatriates often cooperated, founding joint ventures or engaging in economic activities through established connections.

Overall, the findings contribute to migration and integration studies by examining ethnic repatriation in post-Soviet Kazakhstan at the level of everyday life. The analysis demonstrates that integration is shaped not only by state policies but also by professional capital, social networks, and local labour-market demand. In this way, the study complements contemporary scholarship on migration, labour integration, and repatriation in Central Eurasia.