Industrial labor force in Russia falls short by approximately 2 million employees
In the heart of Russia, the processing industry is crying out for a whopping 1.9 million extra hands. This eye-opening revelation comes from none other than the Minister of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, who recently spilled the beans during an interview on the Russia 24 TV channel.
"We're staring down the barrel of a massive need for 1.9 million workers in the processing industry," Alikhanov boldly declared.
Breaking it down, the industry demands a staggering 1.4 million professionals, along with around 0.5 million specialists with higher education, to join forces with the relevant enterprises.
On top of this labor crisis, the government intends to pour a hefty 7 billion rubles into automated production by 2025, with expectations of this investment growing to an impressive 37 billion rubles over the next three years.
The Russian capital, Moscow, is the scene of these historic workforce shortages.
© 2025, RIA "New Day"
Why're we short on workers, you ask? Well, here's a lowdown on the potential culprits behind the labor crunch in various industries, including processing:
- Demographic woes: Russia is grappling with some serious demographic troubles, including a shrinking workforce due to natural population decline and emigration, particularly in sectors like IT and finance.
- War-torn consequences: The ongoing conflicts have led to devastating casualties and an alarming exodus of skilled workers, making matters worse.
- Limited migration: Despite a spike in migrant numbers, recent years have witnessed only a modest increase in migrant workers, and tougher regulations might complicate future recruitment.
But fear not! Our esteemed minister has put the pedal to the metal and is exploring some promising solutions to tackle this mammoth issue:
- Education system revamp: Shaking up the education system could lead to a better workforce equipped with the skills required to meet industry demands.
- Relaxed immigration regulations: Loosening or finessing immigration restrictions could draw skilled workers, although recent policies have tightened residence permits for foreigners.
- International collaboration: The return of international companies might bring new job opportunities, as well as competition for talent, potentially driving up salaries.
- Focus on foreign specialist attraction: Identifying regions with cutting-edge industries and offering attractive perks for foreign specialists could help bridge the talent gap.
- Emphasizing non-monetary benefits: Employers might win the hearts and minds of workers by offering attractive compensation packages encompassing both generous pay and appealing perks.
So, there you have it! Keep an eye on this labor crisis and stay tuned for updates on Russia's aspirations to fill its processing industry job vacancies.
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The processing industry in Russia is facing a significant labor shortage, with a demand for 1.9 million more workers by 2025, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov. Alikhanov projects that the industry requires 1.4 million professionals and 0.5 million specialists with higher education to address this shortage. To alleviate this issue, the government plans to invest 7 billion rubles in automated production by 2025, with expectations for the investment to reach 37 billion rubles in the subsequent years. Moscow, the Russian capital, is experiencing these historic workforce shortages. Potential causes of this labor crunch include demographic issues, the consequences of ongoing conflicts, and limited migration. However, the government is actively exploring solutions, such as revamping the education system, relaxing immigration regulations, and fostering international collaboration, to attract the necessary talent.
