All peretrud: engineers and teachers became the most in-demand specialists of the year

The most in-demand qualified employees this year are engineers, teachers and programmers, the Labor Ministry's All-Russian Research Institute of Labor told Izvestia. With the development of industry and infrastructure projects, the demand for employees with qualifications and experience is growing, recruitment services said. Record low unemployment indicates a stable labor market and growth in the number of jobs, experts noted. However, staff hunger forces employers not only to compete for employees with salary offers, but also to poach them from competitors, analysts say. The Izvestia article tells about who else was most in demand in the labor market in the closing year.

What specialists employers are looking for

In Russia at the end of the year, the "job seeker's labor market" remains - companies have to fight for specialists, reported "Izvestia" in the All-Russian Research Institute of Labor Ministry of Labor. The situation was facilitated by the trend towards import substitution, industrial production growth multiplied by long-term demographic factors.

The demand for highly qualified specialists with experience was especially high, said Vladimir Smirnov, Acting Director General of the All-Russian Research Institute of Labor.

- In the professional qualification structure of the employed this year the share of specialists of the highest and middle level of qualification has increased, - he noted.

Among the most in-demand qualified employees in 2024 were engineers, including design engineers, design engineers, production and technical engineers, as well as teachers and programmers. Such data was shown by monitoring of vacancies posted by employers.

The development of enterprises in the field of industry and agriculture, as well as infrastructure projects require the involvement of skilled workers, so their demand in the labor market is growing, confirmed "Izvestia" development director of "Avito Rabota" Roman Gubanov.

- The deficit of highly qualified personnel remains. For example, IT specialists of middle and senior levels," he said.

The labor supply does not keep up with the growth rate of demand, confirmed "Izvestia" in recruiting services. Thus, according to SuperJob, the number of vacancies increased by 10% compared to last year.

- If we take into account that in 2023 the number of vacancies in one and a half times exceeded the figures of 2022, then it turns out that for two years the number of vacancies in the labor market of Russia has increased by 1.7 times. The rate of increase in the number of resumes does not cover the staffing needs of the market," they said. - The most acute shortage of personnel is felt by manufacturing and logistics companies, as well as service and IT companies.

Strong deficit is observed in retail trade, medicine and automotive business - in them the ratio of active resumes per one vacancy is below three, added Natalia Danina, the main expert on the labor market and the head of the direction of client efficiency hh.ru.

- Also the deficit areas include manufacturing, sales, transportation and logistics, construction, catering and agriculture," she said.

Who else is in demand in the labor market

Representatives of working professions were also in demand by companies in various industries, noted recruiting services. Thus, according to SuperJob, the most actively searched for workers, truck drivers, drivers of special equipment, line employees in retail, warehouse staff and couriers.

- We see that the number of vacancies is also increasing for office workers. The most in-demand employees among mass areas are specialists in sales and customer service, - Roman Gubanov added.

Sales managers, sales consultants and drivers were actively sought in 2024, added Natalia Danina, chief expert on the labor market and head of client efficiency at hh.ru.

- The number of vacancies for call-center operators, accountants, handymen, packers and storekeepers, doctors has also increased most noticeably - she listed.

But administrators, catering staff, couriers and welders were only in the second ten of the list of the most demanded professions in 2024.

What is affected by low unemployment

Business demand for personnel reflects the general situation in the economy, experts believe. For example, unemployment in the country is at a record low of 2.3%, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a direct line on December 19, 2024. The growth of industry amounted to 4.4%, the processing industry - 8.1%. Agriculture remains one of the key sectors of the economy: its growth is 3% per year.

Low unemployment indicates a stable labor market and growth in the number of jobs, which, in turn, strengthens confidence in the economy and signals active hiring on the part of enterprises, explained "Izvestia" founder of the consulting agency "Spektakula" Serafima Perfilieva.

- This creates positive expectations among both employers and employees, which may contribute to the growth of consumer demand and, as a result, further development of the economy," she emphasized.

However, too low unemployment may lead to an even greater shortage of qualified specialists, the expert emphasized. This will create prerequisites for further growth of wages and increase in labor costs, which may affect the profitability of business.

- Also, under conditions of low unemployment, inflationary pressure may arise if wages grow too fast," the expert noted. - In conditions of critically low unemployment, employers may become less inclined to invest in training and development of employees, which reduces opportunities for professional growth.

Low unemployment rates may indicate a lack of available workforce, which creates overheating in the labor market, believes Fedor Sidorov, founder of the School of Practical Investing.

- Personnel hunger leads, for example, to lower requirements for candidates. Employers are forced to hire employees with minimal qualifications and train them from scratch," the expert said.

How employers fight for personnel

In conditions of staff shortage, employers are actively looking for new approaches to hiring and retaining people. They are not only increasing salaries, but also trying to lure people from other companies, as well as referral programs, said Marina Khadina, director of development of CRM for recruiting Talantix.

- According to our survey, two-thirds of employers use candidate poaching, with 12% of them using this method regularly, and another 55% periodically poach employees from other companies to cover their staffing needs," she said.

Workers alone: drivers and welders had the fastest wage growth in 2024

Who's proposed salary was declining and what will happen to the labor market in the coming year

The increase in salary offers in 2024 was recorded in all industries and amounted to 6-25% depending on the sphere, added Alexander Veterkov, deputy general director of the service "Work.ru", operating director of the services "SberPodbor" and "Podbratka".

As reported "Izvestia", the highest increase in salaries showed the professions of promoter, driver, welder. Also salaries of construction and industrial specialists, warehouse workers - loaders, storekeepers and carpenters - increased noticeably.

- According to the results of 2024, we can confidently state that the number of specialties with low wages has significantly decreased, - says Alexander Veterkov. - The highest salaries are traditionally offered to specialists with experience or specific skills. At the same time, a significant increase in salaries is noticeable in manufacturing and agro-industry.

However, the dynamics of salaries in 2024, showing high growth rates on average in the economy, differed significantly depending on the industry, the level of qualifications and the availability of proven experience, said Vladimir Smirnov.

- This situation is observed among representatives of a number of humanitarian spheres, including economics, law, social sciences, marketing," he said.

In 2025, the formed "job seeker labor market" will remain and will require employers to be highly flexible and responsive to changes, the expert predicts. At the same time, the introduction of automation and digitalization tools will result in a growing demand for professionals skilled in working with them.