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Playing ahead of the curve: is it worth starting to work in a specialty while studying at a university
Seven out of ten Russians are convinced that it is advisable to start a professional career in a specialty while still studying at a university or college — this is the conclusion reached by Avito Rabota analysts based on a survey of 10,000 respondents (Izvestia has it). Information technology (43%), medicine (21%) and the oil and gas sector (20%) remain the most attractive areas for young people. But experts warn of an imbalance between the demand for personnel in the real sector and the preferences of applicants. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Study or work: how can a student not lose either knowledge or experience
According to the Federal Labor and Employment Service, 61% of students in Russia combine study and work: 4.5 million university students and 2 million college students out of 10.8 million students work.
The practice of employing undergraduates has become a common phenomenon in the Russian higher education system. The junior courses are mostly unemployed, but they have been actively involved in their work in the last years of their studies. At the same time, during the master's degree period, most students, as a rule, are already working. This dynamic is recorded by Alexander Odintsovo, a leading analyst of the Youth and Education practice at the VTSIOM analytical center. The teaching staff generally positively assesses the work of students in their specialty, as it allows them to practice the skills acquired within the framework of the educational program.
However, experts also note the downside of the process. Not all employers are ready to adjust to the academic schedule, as a result of which the student is forced to skip classes, be distracted from academic tasks and overwork. Most often, in the "study – work" confrontation, the latter wins, which reduces the depth of immersion in the educational process. Elena Kulchitskaya, head of the St. Petersburg State University HR Clinic, draws attention to this. To minimize such risks, she said, "St. Petersburg State University implements online educational programs with leading employers, where internships and internships are harmoniously integrated into the curriculum."
Why will competition skyrocket in five years?
Rosstat forecasts indicate a significant change in the demographic structure in the medium term. From 2026 to 2035, the number of 18-year-olds in the country's employment structure is expected to jump: if in 2025 there were 1.5 million people, then by 2035 the figure will reach almost 1.9 million. This will inevitably lead to increased competition among young professionals, which requires applicants and their parents to develop competitive advantages in advance, whether it is work experience or an advanced level of knowledge.
Another aspect of the problem is related to the general decline in the working-age population: by 2030, the number of this group may decrease by another 2-3 million people, according to Rosstat calculations based on the demographic forecast until 2035. This creates an additional imbalance: young people are massively striving for IT and finance, while the real sector is experiencing a shortage of personnel — the shortage of engineers, technologists, and housing and communal services specialists reaches 30-40% in some regions. According to government data, for example, in 2024, Russian companies lacked 2.2 million employees — 7.6% of the total number of jobs, which was a record since 2008.
According to Igor Murog, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture, the solution lies in the development of systemic "elevators" — dual education programs with mentoring and social guarantees, which are already demonstrating effectiveness in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and the Kaliningrad region: up to 85% of dual students are employed on the basis of practical training, and their starting salaries are 15-20% higher than the industry average, according to a report by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. According to Senator Murog, this approach makes it possible to strengthen both the competencies of students and the economy of the regions.
Early entry into the profession, provided that internships and targeted training are properly organized, contributes not to reducing, but to improving the quality of personnel training. At the same time, it is important to maintain fair working conditions and a decent level of social guarantees for young professionals, regardless of age and seniority — this position is consistently defended by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia. In a few years, continuous training and advanced training will become the norm throughout professional life, which requires adaptation from both educational institutions and employers, according to the FNPR.
Which professions will be launched tomorrow, and which will be a thing of the past
The high interest of young people in the fields of information technology, medicine and the oil and gas industry remains, but it is important to evaluate these areas taking into account the long-term transformations of the market. The need for medical workers, especially against the background of the current shortage, will obviously continue due to the aging of the population. This is indicated by data from the Russian Ministry of Health. The oil and gas industry, which remains highly competitive internationally, also demonstrates a steady demand for qualified personnel, according to the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation.
The situation in the IT sector requires a more differentiated approach. Research on the impact of artificial intelligence shows that automation will primarily affect the need for "ordinary coders," according to materials from VTSIOM analytical reports on the impact of AI on the labor market. With the introduction of neurotechnology, the demand for juniors in IT has plummeted, so students in the relevant fields will have to start "pumping" their skills from school in order to reach the "middle level". This opinion is expressed by Mikhail Sapir, Executive Director of the Career Support Center. At the same time, there is a growing need for data architects, bioinformatics and specialists in the application of AI in manufacturing industries: for example, in agriculture and in the industrial sector.
In 10-15 years, professions at the intersection of technology and human-centricity will come to the fore: bioengineering, cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, adaptive education, climate analytics, experts predict the National Technology Initiative within the framework of the concept of professional education development until 2030, approved by the government of the Russian Federation. The bet should be placed not on the "fashionable", but on a stable combination of personal interest, quality of training and strategic demand. The economy of the future will need qualified, socially protected and motivated workers who are able to master new competencies in the face of technological change.
What is the threat of the pursuit of prestige to the detriment of personal inclinations
The orientation of applicants and their parents mainly towards prestige and the level of future salary when choosing a profession carries certain socio-economic risks. Being a student is a rare period in life when there is an opportunity to significantly invest in personal growth: actively read, study, communicate with high—level specialists. Spending this time solely on making money may not be the best strategy for the future, especially if the job is not related to your specialty, Alexander Odintsovo believes.
Even with the formal continuation of studies, a student who is engaged in work on a residual basis cannot delve into the learning process as deeply as with full-fledged involvement. This increases the risks of professional burnout and staff turnover in the future, and also exacerbates the shortage of specialists in less prestigious but socially significant fields. To mitigate these effects, it is necessary to expand the formats of integration of education and practice, in which academic workload and professional experience do not conflict.
Work in the specialty at senior courses is one of the priorities of state policy in the field of education. In particular, the federal projects "Professionalism" and "Advanced Engineering Schools", whose passports are approved by the Russian government, are based on this. Targeted training commissioned by employers also provides for an internship at an enterprise, which often becomes a student's first workplace. This approach helps to reduce the gap between educational programs and the real needs of business, providing more informed professional self-determination of young people.
At the same time, it is important to take into account the economic context: the average salary of young professionals aged 18-34 in Russia in 2025 was 95.5 thousand. This figure increased by 13% over the year, but the incomes of specialists aged 18-24 remain lower — 76.8 thousand rubles on average, Rosstat data show. The highest level of remuneration was recorded in the fields of mining (140.3 thousand rubles) and information technology (137.9 thousand rubles), which partly explains the high competition for places in the relevant universities. According to the forecast of the Ministry of Labor, by 2030, in order to meet the needs of employers, about 2.2 million people will need to be additionally involved in the labor market every year.
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