Labour gap in Moscow reaches 500,000 due to demographic trends

Moscow is experiencing a labour deficit of 500,000 people, a figure expected to grow due to demographic trends, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

He made remarks while presenting the city government’s report to the Moscow City Duma, providing details on the scale of the workforce shortage, Caliber.Az reports via TASS.

“Today, the labour resource deficit in Moscow—that is, vacant positions not covered by available workers—ranges from 400,000 to 500,000 people. This number has remained fairly stable and is likely to increase in the future due to the demographic situation we are facing,” Sobyanin stated.

Russia’s labour shortage isn’t limited to Moscow; it reflects a broader national demographic and economic crisis. The country’s working‑age population has been shrinking for years due to low birth rates, ageing, and emigration, meaning fewer people are available to fill jobs and putting long‑term pressure on the workforce and economic growth.

Experts also point to a sharp decline in migrant labour, which historically made up a significant share of the workforce, as migration policies tighten and wages stagnate, worsening staff shortfalls across sectors like construction, manufacturing, and services.

Additionally, Russia’s full‑scale war in Ukraine and associated mobilisation have removed many working‑age men from the civilian labour pool, contributing further to the deficit and leaving employers struggling to recruit even as unemployment remains at historic lows.

By Jeyhun Aghazada