Russia is facing a pronounced shortage of top-tier IT talent, with evidence pointing to a gap as wide as 80 percent among experienced professionals. This concern was highlighted by Veronika Elikova, who leads the talent management division at T1 Innotech, during a discussion with socialbites.ca.
There is a clear uptick in demand for highly skilled IT workers within the Russian market. Elikova notes that the deficit has surged to around 80 percent, underscoring the urgency for stronger talent pipelines and competitive compensation to attract the right experts.
In practical terms, Russian companies are prioritizing roles such as systems analysts, DevOps engineers, and technical leaders who can drive development projects with leadership and deep technical know‑how.
Beyond these core roles, specialists in Big Data engineering, data warehousing, information security, and mobile testing are also in high demand as businesses push for robust digital capabilities and secure, scalable platforms.
The head of the talent department explained that some enterprises are willing to offer above‑market wages to secure high‑quality professionals, reflecting the premium placed on scarce IT expertise.
Elikova also projected that the appetite for valuable IT talent in Russia is likely to grow further as digital initiatives expand and technology becomes more embedded in everyday business operations.
Analyses from the job search platforms Headhunter and Rabota.ru in April show that employers are ready to pay competitive salaries to IT specialists, reinforcing the perception that Russia remains a high‑stakes market for tech talent and a critical area for strategic hiring investments.