Graduates of Bauman University prefer to work not as engineers, but as couriers
The outflow of migrants from Russia has contributed to an increase in the salaries of local residents. A number of specialists who received 70-80 thousand rubles a year ago now have salaries of 150, 250, or even 300 thousand plus additional payments of various kinds. Employers have begun to bring back older employees who were given an honorable farewell to retirement a year or two ago. And there are still not enough personnel — not only qualified ones, but also, for example, couriers.
About labor market trends experts spoke at a press conference at the National News Service.
Over the past year, vacancies in Russia have increased by 44%, but the number of resumes has increased by only 11%. Company owners admit: until recently, potential employees competed for positions, but now they have to hire almost anyone who agrees to work. Analysts say that a revolution is taking place in the labor market before our eyes.
— Migrant employment quotas are decreasing, the state is tightening the screws. Due to a shortage of personnel, enterprises began to fight for talented employees and inflate salaries. Giant companies are increasing salaries, something that middle-market enterprises cannot boast of, which suffer more than others from a shortage of specialists, says Garry Muradyan, a member of the State Duma’s expert council on youth policy and the Association of Career Consultants of Russia.
If before the salary of a carpenter was 70-80 thousand rubles, now – 130-140 thousand (with the average salary in the country — 73 thousand rubles). And professionals in their field will no longer accept less money.
“I’ll give you an example,” Muradyan continues. — In Samara they are looking for a person who does metal grinding. The basic salary of such a specialist – 130 thousand rubles. Now the company offers such a person 400 thousand rubles – however, they can’t find him.
Due to the outflow of migrants, so-called gray collar positions have appeared – cooks, dishwashers, delivery people, couriers, drivers. There is a huge shortage of welders, electricians, turners, and machine operators at construction sites. There are not enough furniture makers, seamstresses, cutters. “Employers inflate their salaries and dance with tambourines just to keep them. What’s interesting is that despite the officially declared unemployment of 3.5% in Russia and 0.9% in Moscow, we constantly hear about a shortage of personnel. It seems like everyone is employed – but there’s not enough talent,” says Muradyan.
It’s gotten to the point where graduates of Baumanka and other prestigious universities are becoming couriers. An engineer's salary is 110-130 thousand rubles, and a delivery driver receives more than 200 thousand in a good month.
— Such a difference in payment is scary. It is clear that we need to develop services, but it is equally important to raise the salaries of qualified specialists, whom our economy needs more than ever,” comments Svetlana Bessarab, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs. – As far as I know, employers have begun to return retirees to work. By the way, according to statistics, there are more of them among Russians than young people. In addition, people of the older generation have good experience and knowledge. They need to be emphasized.
In the near future, the state will continue to need IT specialists, participants in the press conference believe. There will be an equally significant shortage of personnel in the healthcare system, from junior medical personnel, whose training takes several months, to doctors, whose training takes eight years. Rural areas are in need of teachers and paramedics – Yesterday's graduates are in no hurry to exchange the bustle of the metropolis for a measured life among fields and meadows.
After the return of migrants and their willingness to dump on the labor market, it is unlikely that Russians will agree to have their salaries reduced. The same applies to participants in a special military operation, who, while now receiving high incomes, will not be able to put up with low salaries in civilian life. “What to do about it – It’s still unclear. Most likely, it will be necessary to reshape the economy to suit new conditions. Under what? “I personally don’t have an answer,” concludes Harry Muradyan.