OLGA IZRYADNOVA: “LABOR MARKET LACKS QUAILIFIED WORKERS MEETING MODERN REQUIREMENTS”

Having conducted the study, experts of the Gaidar Institute and the RANEPA Center for the Economics of Continuing Education, concluded that the deterioration in the households’ financial situation forces a significant part of graduates of the 9th and 11th grades to continue their studies in the system of secondary vocational education in order to quickly enter the labor market.

Back in the early 2000s, economists warned that staffing challenges were imminent in the real sector. Enterprises that “did not fit into the market” were massively closed, as well as vocational schools that trained workers. Experienced but elderly skilled workers gradually left "according to their age."

“There is a significant gap between the demand of employers and the market offers. First of all, there is a shortage of people with skills and knowledge that meet modern requirements,” believes Olga Izryadnova.

According to Olga Izryadnova, the deficit of experienced and skilled workers reached its peak due to the fact that 2013 was the last year when economy of this country showed high growth rates. Then, the recession began and qualified personnel moved to trade and other areas followed by the drop in incomes of the households.

According to the research data, “the interest of young people in secondary vocational education has grown in Russia." Since 2014, admission to training programs for mid-level specialists has steadily increased and in 2020 exceeded admission to universities.

According to researchers, vocational schools, technical schools, colleges for training professions are being revived. It is highly probable that the increase in the number of students in secondary vocational education organizations will reach at least 45 000 people a year. In this regard, it is necessary to increase a number of places for training on a contractual basis in the most demanded professions.