In the first quarter of 2023, the picture of workforce availability in Russia shifted to new extremes. A report published by Kommersant, citing data from the Bank of Russia’s Monitoring of Enterprises survey, shows that the gap between available workers and demand widened markedly compared with the previous quarter. The central bank’s survey covered 14,000 employers across non-financial sectors and illuminated a troubling trend: the overall staffing balance fell to -18 points, the lowest reading recorded since the start of the Bank of Russia’s observations in 1998. This figure captures the depth of shortages facing Russian enterprises as they move through the early months of the year.
The pain point varied across industries. Manufacturing led the way in deficits, with a balance of -28 points, followed by industrial enterprises at -25 points. Other sectors showing significant strain included water supply at -23 points and both mining and transportation and storage, each reporting shortfalls near -22 points. These numbers reflect a broad-based squeeze in labor power that touches core production and logistics chains, signaling to policymakers and business leaders that talent gaps are shaping capacity and competitiveness in the economy.
Not all sectors experienced the same degree of strain. The lowest levels of shortages appeared in automobile sales with a -10 balance, wholesale trade at -13 points, and the service sector at -14 points. While these figures suggest relatively milder gaps in those areas, the overall trend remains one of tightening labor markets across the economy, with a notable emphasis on skilled roles and technical tasks.
Looking beyond the quarterly snapshot, mid-April indicators from consulting firms and recruitment platforms point to a continued escalation in demand for information technology professionals. Yakov and Partners, a consulting outfit, alongside the job and employment portal HeadHunter, reported growing dissatisfaction among Russian employers regarding IT staffing. The most acute shortages were identified in programming and web development, underscoring a persistent struggle to fill roles requiring specialized technical expertise.
Experts note that the IT sector’s talent gap has broader implications for enterprise productivity, digital transformation efforts, and the ability to innovate in a rapidly changing market. Firms are responding with a mix of strategies, including targeted training initiatives, direct recruiting campaigns, and partnerships with higher education institutions to stretch the pipeline of capable programmers and engineers. Yet the pace of demand in information technology often outstrips supply, creating a dynamic where even well-resourced employers must compete aggressively for a shrinking pool of qualified candidates. Where the labor market will settle in the near term remains uncertain, but the pattern is clear: the shortages are concentrated in high-skill domains, and IT competencies sit at the heart of the challenge.