The Kommersant reviewed a study by the Gaidar Institute on the relationship between industrial robots, labor shortages, and labor productivity in Russia's regions.
The experts concluded that automation is becoming the primary response to labor shortage, with robotization leaders already demonstrating a significant lead over the Russian average. According to the Gaidar Institute's Mathematical Modeling of Economic Processes Department, as of early 2026, the highest concentration of industrial robots was recorded in the Kaluga region, i.e., 60 machines per 10.000 industrial workers. It was followed by the Samara region (41 robots), the Leningrad region (40), and the Tula region (28). A direct dependance was observed by the Gaidar Institute’s study, i.e., the largest number of robots is concentrated in places where large mechanical engineering giants operate.
The study also pointed to structural changes in the industry. While the automotive industry remains the traditional leader in robot adoption, metalworking and mechanical engineering are increasingly being automated. According to Kept data cited by experts, these industries account for up to 23% of the country's total industrial robot fleet. Furthermore, analysts have noted an explosive growth in demand for automation in the pharmaceutical industry: more than a third of drug manufacturers already use robots.