Between December 2021 and December 2022, Russia saw a notable drop in the number of people under 35 in its workforce, shrinking by 1.33 million. This decline, cited by RBC with data from Rosstat and the FinExpertiza audit and advisory network, mirrors a trend last seen after the 2020 pandemic year when a similar fall occurred, totaling 1.34 million. The pattern indicates a persistent aging of the nation’s labor pool that has been building since the 1990s, reshaping the country’s employment landscape.
By December 2022, the tally of young workers reached 21.5 million, accounting for 29.8% of all employed individuals. This marked the smallest share observed in the series since 2006, underscoring a historic low for youth employment across the country. FinExpertiza emphasized that the decline is part of a broader demographic shift, with aging both the population and the labor force becoming increasingly evident over the decades. The trend highlights how structural factors, including generational cohorts and shifting employment needs, interact to influence who participates in the labor market.
The segment involving ages 25 to 29 absorbed the largest reduction, with 724 thousand fewer workers. This age band, valued for its blend of experience and mobility, is especially important to the economy because many individuals in this group have already accumulated work history while still being flexible in changing jobs. Analysts note that those born during the 1993–1997 crisis era populate this bracket, reflecting the long-term consequences of earlier socioeconomic shocks on the labor supply. The ongoing decline in this group raises questions about workforce renewal and the pace at which new entrants can fill gaps left by aging cohorts.
Experts point to several explanatory factors behind the shrinking pool of young specialists in Russia, including the lower birth rates of the 1990s, persistent joblessness among younger populations, and the outflow of skilled workers abroad prompted by recent geopolitical and economic pressures. A key concern voiced by analysts is the potential lengthening of the hiring cycle, with finding suitable candidates taking longer as the pool of young professionals shrinks. Industry observers note that recruitment timelines may extend by roughly a factor of one and a half, complicating workforce planning for firms and public agencies alike.