In the context of growing social inequality and regional development disparities in Kazakhstan, particularly in industrialized regions, the level of involvement of socially vulnerable groups in the economy remains low. The lack of a systematic approach to inclusion limits the potential of human capital as a resource for sustainable growth. Despite the presence of targeted support programs, including employment promotion, microfinance, and inclusive education initiatives, their implementation is generally fragmented and not integrated into socio-economic development strategies. This reduces the effectiveness of such measures and hinders the formation of sustainable inclusion institutions. In addition, institutional, infrastructural, and digital barriers persist, limiting the full participation of vulnerable groups — including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and rural residents — in economic processes. These barriers reinforce structural inequalities and contribute to the reproduction of social exclusion. Under such conditions, inclusion should be reconsidered not as a form of social assistance but as an investment strategy aimed at expanding labor and entrepreneurial potential, strengthening domestic demand, and ensuring balanced regional economic development. The main goal of the study is to determine the potential of economic inclusion as a strategy for sustainable socio-economic development of the region. The research applies quantitative and qualitative methods, including analysis of official documents and SWOT analysis of inclusion conditions. Institutional, infrastructural, regulatory, and social barriers to the participation of vulnerable groups in the regional economy are examined. The study finds that despite the existence of basic infrastructure and support programs, the main constraints to economic inclusion are fragmented policies, weak interdepartmental coordination, digital and educational inequality. The inclusion of economically inactive populations through inclusive entrepreneurship, digital employment, and human capital development can become a significant driver of regional growth. A transition from compensatory support to strategic integration of inclusion into regional planning is proposed