Wage Growth in Russia’s Construction Sector Surges in July 2024
July 2024 saw the sharpest rise in average pay within Russia’s construction industry. The biggest gains occurred among drillers and concrete workers, according to Avito Works data cited by TASS. Employers now offer drillers an average salary of 127,691 rubles, marking a 43% year over year increase. Concrete workers see even larger jumps, with average pay climbing to 108,587 rubles, up 58% from the previous year.
The rapid wage growth reflects a tight labor market as construction activity expands. Market demand has pushed up salaries as companies compete for qualified personnel. In Avito Works terms, the trend is clear: a rising number of construction projects across the country has driven stronger demand for skilled workers, including drillers and concrete specialists. A representative from Avito Works, Roman Gubanov, notes a broad uptick in construction volumes that translates into higher demand for skilled labor.
Year over year, demand for concrete workers increased roughly 3.5 times, while demand for bricklayers and general construction workers doubled. To attract and retain specialists, many firms are raising wages and strengthening ties with construction colleges to create a pipeline of trained workers for the industry. This approach helps address the persistent shortage of qualified construction personnel by aligning training with industry needs and providing clearer paths into well paid roles.
Looking at regional dynamics, wages show variation by project type. On average across the country, salaries in housing construction rose 16% to 80,478 rubles, while salaries in industrial facilities climbed 15% to 80,940 rubles. These figures illustrate how the construction sector is balancing the higher costs of labor with the need to maintain project momentum and competitiveness in a growing market.
Earlier analyses from the Headhunter platform highlighted that the lowest wages in Russia are paid to janitors and cleaners, with janitors earning around 32.6 thousand rubles and cleaners about 37.3 thousand rubles. Salaries for teachers and nannies range around 40.5 thousand rubles, and teachers average about 41.9 thousand rubles. This context helps underscore how construction wages compare with other blue collar and service roles, and why the sector often leads in salary growth when demand surges across the economy.
Overall, the picture in Russia’s construction landscape shows a market that rewards skilled labor with meaningful pay increases. Employers are not just raising base wages; they are investing in training partnerships and career pathways that sustain a steady supply of qualified workers as the market expands.
Note: The figures and trends referenced reflect industry data and analyses from Avito Works and Headhunter at the time of reporting, attributed to the listed sources. [Avito Works] [Headhunter]