Russia turns to foreign workers as labour shortage deepens

Russian companies are increasingly recruiting foreign workers as the country faces an acute labour shortage, with demand for staff reaching record levels across key sectors.

According to a survey of more than 300 employers conducted by recruitment services, 37% of companies already employ foreign specialists. More than half of those firms are large businesses, Russian newspaper Izvestia cites. 

The survey indicates that 13% of employers are ready to hire workers from African countries, including the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, as well as from India. Around 21% of companies are considering candidates from China, North Korea, Thailand and Cambodia. Workers from neighbouring states remain in demand, with 38% of firms continuing to recruit from nearby countries.

Interest in foreign personnel has risen sharply in recent years. Before the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, only about 5% of companies said they were prepared to hire foreign workers. That figure has now climbed to more than 40%, according to recruitment data.

Alexander Vetterkov, deputy CEO of the employment platform Rabota.ru, said that workers from Asia and Africa began arriving in Russia in significant numbers in 2025. Many are offered official employment contracts for up to three years, along with housing and medical insurance. Entry for citizens of visa-required countries is regulated by quotas. In 2026, the quota was set at 279,000 people — the highest level in the past decade.

The labour shortage is particularly acute in logistics, construction and retail trade, where staffing gaps reach 40–50%. According to Russia’s state statistics agency Rosstat, by the end of 2025 businesses were seeking an estimated 2.7 million additional workers.

The inflow of migrant labour has helped companies contain wage growth in low-skilled segments and fill positions that many Russians are reluctant to take, including construction work, housing and municipal services, and other auxiliary roles.

However, Alexander Shkarupa, founder of the Dynamika agency, cautioned that reliance on foreign labour is largely a short-term solution. In the long term, he said, businesses will need to boost productivity, while the education system must better prepare qualified specialists for industry and the service sector.

By Sabina Mammadli