Uzbekistan's labor market maintained strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with job vacancies rising 9.8%, active job seekers increasing by nearly one-third, and wage growth continuing as private-sector employment expanded, according to the Central Bank's latest economic review.
The report shows that labor market activity remained elevated during the January–March period, supported by sustained domestic demand and business activity.
In March, the number of job vacancies increased by 9.8% compared with the same period last year. Demand for workers was particularly strong in the services, retail, catering, and manufacturing sectors.
Meanwhile, the number of active resumes rose by 31.5% year-on-year to 636,000, indicating growing participation in the labor market.
Employment growth continued to be driven primarily by the private sector. During 2025, private-sector employment increased by 5.2%, while the national unemployment rate stood at 4.8%.
Wage growth also remained robust. Nominal wages increased by 17.4% year-on-year, while real wages—which account for inflation—rose by 9.5%.
The Central Bank also reported that remittance inflows totaled $3.8bn during the first quarter, marking a 13% increase compared with the same period last year.
Earlier, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree increasing pensions, social benefits, public-sector wages, stipends, and the basic calculation value by 7%. The increases will take effect in stages beginning in July and September 2026 as part of the government's broader social support measures.
However, Uzbekistan recently ranked 117th out of 197 countries in CEOWORLD Magazine's 2025 global net salary ranking, with an average monthly post-tax wage of $458. Among CIS countries, Uzbekistan trailed Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in the index.
