The latest data on part-time work among Russians shows a notable uptick in demand that marks the strongest level observed since 2015, according to a survey linked with HeadHunter, a leading online job marketplace. The mood index used to gauge employee sentiment sits at -0.18, with scores ranging from -1 to +1. In this scale, -1 signals a negative perception of one’s own job prospects, while +1 signals a robust sense of stability in one’s career outlook.
In the second quarter of the year, the employment success index dipped by 2 percent, landing at 0.11. Meanwhile, readiness to accept lower salary offers edged higher by 0.06 points to a modest 0.05. Observers describe this pattern as a reaction to a labor market that is loosening in some respects while still tight in others, producing a paradox where workers feel uncertain about salary expectations even as opportunities exist in certain sectors.
Experts from the Russian academic community weigh in on the causes. A scholar at the Russian University of Economics, identified as an Associate Professor in this context, attributes the decrease in reported employment success to a tendency among job seekers to moderate wage expectations. This is seen against a backdrop of historically low unemployment, along with rising real wages that may not be translating into higher hiring rates in all fields. An economist with ties to the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, named Tatiana Zakharova, points to an imbalance in the labor market as a contributing factor to the observed dynamics.
Turnover indicators suggest that vacancies and salaries for white-collar positions have softened in some areas. At the same time, the Economist notes ongoing shortages in highly specialized engineering domains, including mechanical engineering, aircraft manufacturing, and instrumentation. These sectors demand advanced technical expertise, and the gap between demand and supply appears to persist despite broader economic improvements in other segments of the market.
Current analyses indicate that, for the moment, most Russians are showing a reliance on staying in their current roles rather than actively switching jobs. Yet the combination of staff shortages in critical sectors and selective salary growth in certain regions is creating a perception among some applicants that salary offers do not always reflect the realities of the marketplace. This mismatch can influence job search strategies and wage negotiations, especially for highly qualified professionals who face stiff competition in engineering disciplines that require specialized training and experience.
The survey has been conducted on a quarterly basis since 2015, and the latest set of results was compiled from data collected between April 8 and June 18 of the current year. In total, 11,700 applicants from diverse regions across Russia contributed to the results, providing a broad snapshot of current attitudes toward part-time and full-time work, compensation expectations, and employment prospects. Earlier iterations of the study indicated that a majority of Russians have, at some point in their lives, held at least one part-time or temporary job, illustrating how flexible work arrangements have become a common feature of the labor landscape. And while central bank dynamics may influence broader monetary policy, the focus of this report remains firmly on how workers perceive opportunities and compensation in today’s job market, and how employers respond to changing demand patterns across industries.