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The market of the future: which professions will be the most in demand in Russia in 2026
The Russian labor market is approaching one of the largest personnel reversals in recent years. Anton Kotyakov, Minister of Labor and Social Protection, said that in the next seven years, engineers, highly qualified workers, IT specialists, doctors, teachers and researchers will become key. According to him, 65% of the country's personnel needs are formed by specialists with secondary vocational education, and most of them are skilled workers. They will ensure the sustainability of the industry and technological independence. Izvestia has studied why the economy is changing the structure of employment and which professions will be in top demand as early as 2026.
Why is the economy switching to a mode of technical growth
The main factor in the personnel shift is the government's policy of import substitution, technological sovereignty and the implementation of major national projects. The economy needs specialists capable of creating, maintaining and modernizing complex technological processes.
According to HR expert Svetlana Perkova, founder of the ALL HR agency, the labor market will grow in those sectors where a real technological result is being formed.
— In industry, the main demand will focus on engineers, software engineers for CNC machines, lathes, milling machines, designers for heavy machinery and aircraft construction. The focus is shifting to automation of production processes, and this requires specialists who are able to create and implement new technological solutions," she said.
The expert emphasizes that the industry is experiencing a steady shortage of personnel. The shortage of engineers, chemists, materials scientists and technologists is particularly acute in the defense industry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, where the development of domestic production is now a strategic goal.
Accelerating demand for IT, engineers, and AI specialists
Several experts confirm at once that the IT sector in 2026 expects not a recession, but further growth. This applies primarily to specialists who work with artificial intelligence, system architecture, robotics, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
Ilona Platonova, a business analyst at Adviros, emphasizes that the demand for digital professions is stable and will continue to increase.
— In 2026, the demand for IT specialists will continue to grow: fullstack developers, architects, and data experts. Engineers, doctors, drivers, and workers will continue to be in high demand. The shortage of personnel is fixed in production, logistics, construction and agriculture," she explained.
The analyst notes that the highest salaries are predicted for specialists who combine technical training with digital competencies — engineers working with AI tools and warehouse logistics employees with advanced digital skills.
The data also reminds us of the shortage of engineers GdeRabota.ru . Ekaterina Agaeva, CEO of the job search and recruitment service, claims that the number of vacancies for engineers has exceeded 1.9 million in a year, and this is only at large enterprises.
— The end of 2025 showed that almost a third of all vacancies in the country are occupied by working professions. Specialists who service machinery and robots, such as mechanics, technicians, and electricians, are especially in demand. The high salaries of these professions reflect a serious personnel shortage," Agayeva said.
Areas of constant hunger
According to experts, medicine remains one of the most scarce areas. There is an acute shortage of internists, pediatricians, and general practitioners. The number of attending physicians has decreased by almost 10% in 20 years, so demand will only grow, Ekaterina Agayeva noted.
At the same time, the demand for personnel in logistics is increasing — the reorientation of trade flows towards the countries of Southeast Asia has created the need for new supply chains.
— Logisticians, foreign economic activity specialists and transport analysts are becoming key personnel of the foreign economic infrastructure, — Svetlana Perkova explained.
Education is also one of the professions of the future. The growth of online learning and retraining creates a steady demand for teachers, tutors and mentors. According to Perkova, teachers will become the backbone of the personnel policy of large companies, as employees need constant professional development.
Who will lose their positions: routine professions are inferior to AI
Jobs based solely on routine processes will disappear faster than others. Experts agree that automation will inevitably displace professions that can be completely transferred to programs and algorithms.
Ilona Platonova clarifies that these are primarily administrative and office specialties.
— A decrease in demand is expected for routine administrative roles: HR specialists for mass positions, accountants without analytical skills, data entry operators. These functions are most vulnerable to automation," the analyst noted.
Perkova adds that a similar fate awaits employees whose functionality can be replaced with equipment: call center operators, manual workers performing simple operations.
Which skills will be crucial in 2026
The labor market is rapidly shifting to mixed competencies. The economy needs specialists who are able to combine technical background, digital literacy, the ability to work with AI and developed communication skills.
Ekaterina Agaeva emphasizes that adaptability, the ability to learn quickly, and cross-functionality — the ability to understand several areas at once - will be key. Developed emotional intelligence and the ability to work in a team will be important, because they cannot yet be replaced by technology.
Ilona Platonova also focuses on critical thinking: specialists who are able to analyze data, make decisions in conditions of uncertainty and work with digital tools will remain among the most in demand.
Which industries will grow fastest
Experts agree: the personnel growth will cover industry, construction, transport, healthcare, agriculture and IT. Infrastructure development, environmental transformation, national projects and the course towards economic autonomy create a stable long-term need for technical and engineering personnel.
The labor market is entering a phase of "chronic personnel starvation" — and this phase will last at least until 2032. It is the technical and working professions that will remain the foundation of the country's development, and specialists with digital and engineering skills will be the most protected and highly paid personnel of the new economic era.
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