From groomer to rigger: who entered the new classifier of professions
The updated all—Russian classifier of professions has entered into force in Russia, which for the first time in three decades has recorded thousands of new positions - from artificial intelligence specialists and designers of virtual worlds to groomers, coaches and tattoo artists. The document should help the government to take into account employment more accurately, employers to register employees without legal risks, and the education system to adapt to the demands of the economy. Izvestia tells us why a large—scale revision of professions was needed and how it will affect the labor market in 2026.
What has changed in the official list of professions
On January 1, 2026, the new all-Russian classifier of worker professions, employee positions and tariff categories OK 016-2025 began to operate, which replaced the 1994 document. It was approved by the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology by Order No. 423-st dated May 16, 2025.
In total, the updated list includes almost 5.6 thousand working professions and about 4.3 thousand positions of employees. All of them have been assigned codes related to the classifier of occupations, which are used in statistics, personnel accounting, pension accrual, special assessment of working conditions and regulation of labor relations.
One of the most notable blocks was the expansion of the service and beauty sectors. The document includes an esthetician, a makeup artist, a manicure and pedicure master, permanent makeup and artistic tattoo specialists, as well as a groomer expert in pet care.
The fitness industry includes a fitness trainer, a fitness instructor, and a number of "spa positions" ranging from spa cosmetics to spa manager.
Medicine has also been significantly updated: a neuropsychologist, a sexologist, and a cosmetologist have been included in the classifier, and male counterparts - "medical brother" and "obstetrician" - have been added to female job titles.
IT, design and content have received official status
A separate layer of innovations concerns the digital economy and creative industries. The list includes system administrators, software and big data analysts, web developers, child interface designers, and multimedia application specialists.
About 40 professions from the field of graphic and virtual design have appeared: a concept designer, a virtual camera operator, a rigger of three-dimensional models, a usability specialist, a layout artist, and even a specialist in creating virtual hair.
The content field now officially includes a copywriter, a rewriter, an interviewer, and an SMM manager. In trade and advertising, he is a promoter, merchandiser, and Internet marketer. The financial sector has been expanded by a trader, an investment adviser and a specialist in forex dealer activities.
Risk analysts, risk managers, internal auditors, underwriters and outsourcing managers have appeared in the management unit. Other novelties include a barista, sommelier, sous chef, coach, recruiter, mediator, landscape architect, florist, and even a funeral master of ceremonies.
Why did you need the update?
Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs, told Izvestia that the previous classification was adopted back in 1994 and during this time the country's economy has changed dramatically.
According to him, the technological leap, the emergence of new industries — from the digital economy to the creative industries — and the president's instructions on synchronizing the labor market with the education system played a decisive role.
— Over three decades, professions have emerged that employ millions of people, but they did not formally exist in the registers. The update makes it possible to bring professional standards, personnel training, staffing tables and reporting of organizations into line," the deputy noted.
He added that it will also help to adjust educational programs to meet the real demands of the economy.
— Colleges and universities now teach specialties that are not included in the old classifier. The update will make it possible to bring state educational standards (FGOS) in full compliance with the requirements of the real sector of the economy," the expert explained.
Will the new profession affect pensions and benefits
According to Yaroslav Nilov, the very appearance of a position in the classifier does not directly affect the amount of pension or social benefits.
— The pension, as before, depends on the length of insurance and contributions from the employer. Allowances and subsidies are also linked to social status, not to the name of a profession," he stressed.
However, the new list makes it easier to account for harmful working conditions, assess jobs, and apply industry benefits. All this is realized by accurately linking the profession to the code.
How the classifier will help to bring employment out of the "gray zone"
One of the objectives of the document was the legalization of labor in the digital and creative spheres. As Yaroslav Nilov noted, in the past, many marketplaces, neural networks, or cybersecurity specialists were forced to register under formal and inaccurate names.
— Now employers will be able to conclude correct employment contracts, reflect real positions in staffing tables and reports. For the state, this means a more accurate understanding of the structure of the labor market and the ability to plan personnel training," he explained.
What will this give employers and job seekers?
In the press service hh.ru the update was called long-expected for the labor market. They noted that the formalization of professions such as SMM manager, coach or IT specialist will reduce the risks of disputes with the inspection authorities and will allow for more precise formulation of duties in employment contracts.
In addition, the new classifier will simplify the work of HR services: there will be no need to select approximate codes from the old list, and departments will be able to use uniform designations for tax, pension and statistical reporting.
In hh.ru They emphasized that the document does not set salaries directly, but creates the basis for the development of professional standards and career paths, for example, from a web developer to a senior developer. This makes it easier to recognize qualifications when changing jobs and to make arguments when negotiating income.
Why is renewal important for the economy
Experts agree: the new classifier has become a reflection of the real structure of employment in the country. It contains professions that have been in practice for a long time, but still have not had an official status. According to experts' assessment hh.ru This will help to more accurately predict staffing needs, direct budget funds to train in-demand specialists and reduce administrative barriers for businesses.
The updated list of professions is becoming not just a reference book, but a tool for setting up the entire employment system — from education and statistics to protecting workers' rights and developing new sectors of the economy.
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