The Ministry of Construction has identified a pronounced shortage of skilled labor in housing and community services, estimating about 200,000 roles remain vacant. Referring to Alexei Yeresko, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities, the issue is unmistakable: a broad workforce deficit that disrupts project timelines, weakens maintenance quality, and affects long-term development plans.
Yeresko stressed that the gap spans more than a single trade, stretching across the entire spectrum of housing and communal services. The government views this as a systemic challenge that calls for a multi-faceted strategy to attract workers, elevate the industry’s standing, and ensure a steady flow of qualified personnel at every level of service delivery.
As part of the plan, the department will work with educational institutions to raise awareness about career opportunities in housing and communal services. By aligning curricula with current needs and creating clear pathways into skilled roles, the sector hopes to bring in new entrants who can contribute to more efficient and higher-quality services for residents.
Yeresko pointed out that advances in small-scale mechanization are changing job descriptions within the field. Roles once considered low-skilled, such as janitorial positions, now demand a higher skill set, greater versatility, and the ability to work with advanced technology. This shift highlights the necessity for ongoing training and hands-on experience to prepare workers for increasingly complex tasks.
On labor migration, the official described a evolving dynamic. Dependency on migrant workers remains higher in the capital and major cities compared with regional areas. While migration has historically filled gaps, there is a growing emphasis on expanding domestic capacity and ensuring an even distribution of skilled labor across regions. Data from early 2022 showed a record surge of labor migrants entering the country, prompting policymakers to consider how to align these movements with national workforce goals while supporting local employment opportunities.