Russia is experiencing a pronounced shortage of skilled workers across its labor market. The gap stems from a shrinking, aging population and a noticeable outflow of residents seeking opportunities abroad. Valentina Kurenkova, a senior executive at Netology who oversees government affairs and who also founded the First Generation Foundation, described the situation in a detailed briefing. She stressed that demographic decline paired with talent migration has created a persistent mismatch between available roles and the pool of qualified candidates. This imbalance affects every major sector and slows modernization in both public services and private enterprise. Her assessment underscores the urgency for employers and policymakers to align training pipelines with the evolving needs of the economy.
In 2024, forecasts point to the largest shortages in manufacturing, transportation, health care and information technology. The figures indicate roughly 540 thousand vacancies in manufacturing, about 260 thousand in transportation, around 270 thousand in health care, and approximately 170 thousand in information technology. Construction is under pressure due to ambitious infrastructure programs, and the trucking sector continues to struggle to attract enough drivers. Taken together, demand is set to outpace supply across several critical sectors, potentially slowing progress on productivity and modernization projects in many regions.
Within the Russian labor market, certain professions show especially tight competition for talent. Roles such as janitors, turners, milling operators and grinders appear with only a slim supply of resumes per vacancy. Skilled workers in the food industry, including doctors, cooks, bakers and confectioners, also report talent constraints. Sales consultants are in high demand as well, with rising wages reflecting the tight market for front-line staff. Across these front-line and service-oriented roles, compensation has climbed roughly a quarter to a third compared with 2023, signaling a rapid tightening of conditions for essential positions.
The information technology sector remains robust in its demand. The push toward business digitalization, the rapid growth of startups and ongoing technological progress sustain a steady need for IT professionals who can design, secure and operate digital systems. A broad portion of openings aligns with digital transformation and data-driven decision making, reinforcing the sector’s pivotal role in the economy.
Government estimates place the IT workforce in Russia at about 740 thousand, though employers say the shortage could approach one million. Information security engineers are especially sought after given rising cyber threats, while developers working on machine learning models, systems analysts and Big Data experts are also in high demand. A key skill accompanying these roles is the ability to work with artificial intelligence. Neural networks are increasingly used to address staffing gaps, enabling the delegation of routine tasks to automation, while industry leaders emphasize that AI will complement human IT professionals rather than replace them.
Looking ahead to 2025, engineers who design, operate and monitor automated systems, along with food industry specialists and construction workers, are expected to remain in high demand. The broader narrative points to a deeper embrace of automation and more stringent environmental standards, which will shape compliance and performance initiatives. The IT sector is anticipated to prize software developers skilled in artificial intelligence, blockchain and machine learning, reflecting a shift toward advanced, knowledge-intensive roles.
Forecasts suggest that core talent trends observed in 2024 will persist into 2025, with digitalization strengthening the demand for software developers, data analysts, cloud specialists and AI engineers. With a broad rise in vacancies and the expansion of the digital economy, regions with the most acute shortages are likely to receive priority in hiring and investment decisions.
Initial hiring priorities appear to center on construction and infrastructure for large-scale projects; transport and cargo logistics, including drivers and auto mechanics; and the manufacturing sector needing engineers and shop-floor workers. Healthcare and social services, particularly in rural areas, will also see growing demand. In information technology, cybersecurity experts and data analysts will play a central role in safeguarding and leveraging digital assets in an increasingly connected economy.
Analysts foresee that the main trends of 2024 will continue into 2025, with automation and environmental standards growing in importance. The demand for software developers, data analysts, cloud specialists and AI engineers is expected to rise as firms pursue deeper digital transformation. The combination of automation, high technology and evolving skill requirements will reshuffle the talent landscape, elevating roles in AI, robotics, biotechnology and cybernetics, while construction and transportation remain prominent due to ongoing infrastructure development. Earlier analyses by independent experts noted that shifts in advertising markets could influence Russians in 2025, illustrating how marketing dynamics shape talent demand.