Impact of Educational Attainment on the Development of Female Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan

Background/Objectives: The study is aimed at developing a system of measures helping to overcome the difficulties in the educational field influencing business activities of female entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Sociological representative surveys focused on the female entrepreneurs’ educational level assessment and influence of education on female entrepreneurship in West Kazakhstan. Characteristics of female entrepreneurs as a social group were analyzed quantitatively by the sampling survey method. Qualitative analysis of female entrepreneurs’ relation to the business environment and practical explanation of education impact on the women’s involvement in business were conducted by focus group method. The entrepreneurial workers’ educational level was analyzed qualitatively by in-depth structured interviews. Findings: The paper presents the results of sociological research aimed at the determination of the proportional ratio and interdependence of the level of education and the sphere of activity of female entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It states the low level of vocational training of female entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, which leads to the inability to make well-founded decisions, poor awareness of the activities of organizations supporting and developing the business. This study emphasizes the need to use effectively the potential of female entrepreneurs, as one of the main factors of a perfect enterprise management system, by improving the quality of education, developing the level of intellectual potential and professionalism. The concept of studies allows evaluating the basic educational strategy specific to female entrepreneurship of Western Kazakhstan: development (additional education) or survival (adaptation to the existing conditions and refusal from further development). Applications/Improvements: The proposed directions to support the female entrepreneurship will help to reveal the economic and creative potential of female entrepreneurs, to increase their business activity effectiveness, the level of professional competence and competitiveness in the global labor market, contributing to the general development of Kazakhstan economy.