From Aspiration to Competence: The Portrait of Young Civil Servant in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Kazakhstan faces growing sustainability challenges in public administration due to difficulties in recruiting specialists and an aging workforce. Despite initiatives to increase wages and transparency, it remains unclear whether these reforms effectively attract younger generations to public service. This research investigates the factors shaping young people’s preferences for public sector careers in Kazakhstan by testing Public Service Motivation theory, which suggests individuals are drawn to public service when their personal values align with perceived values fulfilled by institutional functions. Within Kazakhstan's bureaucratic context, characterized by systemic corruption issues, this study hypothesizes that perceptions of government corruption moderate the relationship between PSM and public sector career preference. The research argues that individuals with high intrinsic motivation may avoid public sector careers when they perceive a misalignment between organizational ethics and personal values. Additionally, this study examines competence differences among individuals preferring careers in public, private, or non-profit sectors. While existing literature typically focuses solely on career choice determinants, this research adopts a more comprehensive approach by also assessing the competencies of potential public servants, a critical consideration for Kazakhstan's dual imperatives of attracting workforce while maximizing governmental efficiency.