Around 1.4 million citizens of Uzbekistan work abroad as labor migration patterns shift

Around 1.4 million citizens of Uzbekistan are employed abroad in approximately 40 countries, according to data from the Migration Agency. Russia remains the dominant destination, hosting about 60% of these labor migrants, with 834,200 individuals. Kazakhstan, Türkiye, and South Korea follow, with significant numbers also working in European countries.

The Central Bank's review highlights a notable shift in labor migration trends. There has been a 29% decrease in migrants heading to CIS countries, while the numbers for Europe and East Asia have increased by 42% and 26%, respectively. This indicates a diversification of destinations beyond traditional hubs.

Uzbekistan is actively pursuing organized labor migration through agreements with various countries. The nation has signed 18 intergovernmental and interagency agreements with 14 countries in 2025-2026 alone and collaborates with over 325 international employers. New destinations like Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, and the United States are emerging as promising partners, particularly for high-paying jobs.

This expansion is partly driven by demographic changes in developed countries, especially Europe, which faces a potential labor shortage of 7.5 to 10.5 million workers by 2030. The aging workforce in these regions creates favorable conditions for increased labor migration from Central Asia, filling demand in sectors such as healthcare, IT, construction, and manufacturing.