Nominal wages in Uzbekistan rose 18.4% in January-June 2026 from a year earlier, while real wages rose 10.9%, the Central Bank said in its Labor Market Review for the Q2 2026.
The 10.9% rise in real wages was the highest in recent years. The Central Bank attributed it mainly to slowing price growth.
By province, real wages grew fastest in Jizzakh Province, at 13.3%, followed by Namangan Province at 11.8% and the city of Tashkent at 10.7%.
The slowest growth was in Andijan Province (7.9%) and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (8.6%).
The Central Bank said real wages rose strongly in every part of the country in 2026, while the sizable gaps and fluctuations between areas seen in 2024-2025 have narrowed.
By sector, average pay was highest in finance and insurance, at 19.1 million soums. In information and communication services it reached 17.4 million soums.
The lowest average pay was in agriculture, at 3.5 million soums, and social services, at 4.7 million soums.
Wages grew fastest in transportation and storage (22.8%), social services (20.2%) and construction (19.9%). The Central Bank linked faster pay growth in construction, industry, and transportation and storage to strong labor demand and intensifying competition for skilled workers.
As of June 1, 2026, the number of enterprises and organizations operating in Uzbekistan had reached 471,000, up 7.2% since the start of the year.
Earlier reports said women in Uzbekistan find jobs faster, while men earn more.
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