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- Personnel and reserve: more than a million teenagers entered the labor market in 2025
Personnel and reserve: more than a million teenagers entered the labor market in 2025
1.2 million teenagers were looking for work in 2025, Izvestia was informed in hh.ru . Compared to the previous year, their number increased by 16%. Among the reasons are the shortage of personnel, the simplification of hiring teenagers, rising salaries, a change in attitude to work, as well as the desire of young people to be financially independent. Their average salary exceeds 31 thousand. In which areas young people are most employed and why companies are willing to hire them, see the Izvestia article.
How many children in Russia are looking for work
The number of teenagers aged 14 to 18 who were looking for work increased by 16% over the year. In 2025, there were more than 1.2 million such applicants (in 2024, about 1.1 million), Izvestia was informed in hh.ru . According to the service, the average salary of teenagers was 31.4 thousand rubles. The most sought-after areas for employment turned out to be the service, logistics and sales sectors.
In conditions of a shortage of personnel, companies are more actively attracting workers under the age of 18, explained Viktor Lyashok, senior researcher at the INSAP Center of the IPEI Presidential Academy. The Ministry of Energy previously talked about about 1.5 million unfilled vacancies. Moreover, it was expected that the figure would grow to 2 million by 2030.
Traditionally, companies have tried not to hire 14-17-year-olds, as they are subject to special legal requirements.: reduced working hours, special conditions for employment, a ban on a number of jobs. However, due to the shortage of personnel, enterprises are forced to restructure their strategies, Viktor Lyashok added.
— It is also influenced by the fact that average wages in the economy continue to grow (by 13% over the year). Accordingly, a teenager can now expect a higher level of remuneration than 5-10 years ago. Although the rate that minors receive remains at a lower level than that of other age categories, it has nevertheless increased significantly recently," the expert noted.
This means that rising salaries attract young people. And it is cheaper for companies to attract such applicants.
The trend is also explained by the desire of teenagers to feel the support under their feet and depend less on their parents, says Anastasia Gorelkina, an expert in the field of corporate governance and personnel training. At the same time, the attitude towards work itself is changing — work is perceived as a normal stage of growing up, an opportunity to try yourself and get your first independent experience, she added.
— The fact that the market has become noticeably more open to young people also plays a role. Teenagers are readily hired for retail, catering, delivery services, pick-up points, call centers and simple digital tasks that do not require long—term training," the expert said.
The development of the platform economy and self-employment also had an impact, Viktor Lyashok believes. Such work is especially convenient for minors, as it offers a flexible schedule, and in many cases, a remote format.
This allows you to combine work with study, and clear requirements reduce the barrier to entry, Anastasia Gorelkina added. Izvestia sent a request to other recruiting services, as well as to the Ministry of Labor, about how many employed teenagers there were in 2025.
What are the restrictions on hiring teenagers?
Last year, there were changes in legislation that simplified the hiring of teenagers, said Elena Cherepanova, head of the BBNP Labor Law Practice.
Since September 1, young people between the ages of 14 and 18 have been able to officially work on weekends and holidays exclusively during the summer holidays. However, employment conditions are strictly regulated, the expert noted. For example, if an employee is under the age of 15, they additionally need the written consent of one of their parents or legal representative. At the same time, starting in 2023, the requirement to obtain the consent of guardianship and guardianship authorities for the employment of teenagers aged 14-18 has been abolished.
Despite the simplification of the terms, restrictions remain. Teenagers should not be involved in harmful production, dangerous and underground work, employment in gambling, nightclubs, the production and sale of alcohol, tobacco, toxic substances, erotic materials, as well as work related to carrying heavy loads in excess of permissible standards, explained Elena Cherepanova.
There are also time limits on employment. For young people under the age of 16 — no more than 24 hours a week, from 16 to 18 years — a maximum of 35. During the period of study and work in their free time, these standards are halved.
Despite the restrictions, employers' interest in young employees remains, noted Anastasia Gorelkina, an expert in the field of corporate governance and personnel training. Teenagers learn technology quickly and accept new work formats more easily. For businesses, this is an opportunity to close operational tasks and at the same time build a talent pool for the future, gradually training and adapting employees to their processes, she said.
The trend is likely to continue, the expert believes. As long as young people strive for independence, and the economy needs flexible and trained personnel, interest in early employment will be high.
At the same time, according to her, the key issue is balance. When work doesn't interfere with studies and doesn't turn into a source of constant pressure, it can be a rewarding experience that helps you feel more confident in adulthood and move on without burnout at the start.
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