Russian economist Rostislav Kapelyushnikov states that internal reserves for replenishing the labor force in the country are almost exhausted. Currently, there are between 2.5 and 3 million job vacancies in the Russian economy, a figure significantly higher than in the pre-pandemic period.
The expert notes that the labor market shortage is linked to an increase in demand for both skilled and unskilled personnel. While before 2022 there were more vacancies for office workers (mental labor), the situation has now changed, and the number of vacancies in occupations requiring physical labor has risen sharply. In particular, the level of vacancies for skilled workers is observed to be higher than the average for the economy.
The economist emphasizes that the possibilities for filling vacancies through internal resources, including the unemployed and the retirement-age population, are limited. According to him, labor migration remains the last potential reserve, but under current conditions, this source is also shrinking due to various factors.
At the same time, the practice of forced layoffs is almost non-existent in Russian enterprises. Due to the labor shortage, employers are trying to retain existing staff, and departures are mainly occurring at the employee's own request or by mutual agreement.
