Having embarked on the path of industrial development, the issues of the formation and development of the national working class in Kazakhstan acquired special significance. In this regard, the analysis of various aspects of the socio-economic situation and living conditions of the working class in Kazakhstan, in particular, their lifestyle, behavior, emotional reactions to life events under the influence of state policy, allows us to better understand the characteristic development trends of Soviet society in 1920-1930. This article discusses the basic social problems of Kazakh workers in the 1920s and 1930s. Based on a wide range of sources, special attention is paid to the housing issue, wages, food supply, health problems and interethnic relations.