At a recent gathering of the NRU MGSU Board of Trustees, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin outlined a plan to streamline the education and training timetable for construction workers operating in the new Russian regions. The discussion highlighted a push to accelerate practical readiness so construction teams can begin work sooner, while still ensuring essential skills are acquired. The commentary, attributed to DEA News, pointed to the need for a pragmatic approach that balances speed with safety and quality in development tasks across the affected areas.
Official figures cited at the meeting indicated that roughly 50,000 builders and 20,000 to 30,000 local specialists are currently employed in the LPR, DPR, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions. This sizable workforce underscores the scale of ongoing reconstruction and the demand for adaptable training programs that can quickly bring workers up to speed with regionally specific requirements, including building codes, safety protocols, and project management practices tailored to post-conflict reconstruction scenarios.
Khusnullin advocated a two-tier training model designed to get workers onto sites with a functional skill set as soon as possible, followed by a second stage that deepens expertise. The proposed approach would maintain core competency standards while shortening the initial training window, thereby reducing downtime and enabling more rapid deployment of crews to critical construction projects. This strategy aims to address immediate staffing needs without compromising the long-term quality of construction outcomes or worker protections.
In addition to training reforms, the Deputy Prime Minister called for the restoration and restructuring of the Priazovskiy Technical University in Mariupol, with the goal of bringing the institution back into operation by September 2023. The plan envisions updating curricula, upgrading facilities, and aligning academic programs with the evolving demands of regional development. The university is expected to play a pivotal role in supplying trained engineers, technicians, and qualified instructors who can support both public infrastructure projects and private sector initiatives across the nearby territories.
Industry observers have long noted a growing shortage of qualified specialists within the construction sector, and recent reports reinforce this concern with surveys indicating a broad expectation that the talent gap will widen over the near term. A prominent business daily highlighted widespread sentiment among industry stakeholders that the shortage extends beyond sheer numbers, touching the depth and versatility of skills available. The evolving landscape—marked by large-scale rebuilding efforts, increasingly complex safety requirements, and a shift toward rapid project delivery—creates an environment where accelerated, well-structured training programs are not just beneficial but essential for sustaining momentum in the rebuilding cycle (DEA News).”