News of Cental Asia
18.08.2026
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The geography of labour migration from Uzbekistan is shifting: the share of CIS countries is declining, while European and East Asian destinations are on the rise.
According to Migration Agency data cited in a Central Bank review, some 1.4 million citizens of Uzbekistan are working across nearly 40 countries. Numbers in the CIS have fallen by 29%, while Europe has seen a 42% increase and East Asia 26%. Today, 258,000 citizens are employed in European countries.
The treaty base is expanding as well: Uzbekistan holds 48 agreements with 23 states on organised labour migration, 18 of them concluded in 2025–2026. Cooperation has been established with more than 325 employers and recruitment agencies across 36 countries. New destinations for organised migration now include the United States, Italy, Sweden, France, and Slovenia.
The quality of placement is changing too: since the start of 2026, 124,500 citizens have secured well-paid jobs abroad. Demand is concentrated in engineering, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, green energy, transport, and logistics — with Europe's labour shortfall projected at 7.5–10.5 million people by 2030.
