Russia’s workforce is facing a growing strain as the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to impact its economy.
Industries across the country are struggling to fill critical roles, with the defense sector being hit particularly hard.
Officials warn that the labor shortage is worsening, driven by a combination of mobilization efforts and long-standing demographic challenges, according to WP.
Oleg Morozov, chair of the State Duma Control Commission, addressed the issue on Wednesday. He stated that Russia’s defense industry may soon face a shortage of 400,000 skilled workers.
Not Limited to Defense Industry
According to Morozov, the problem lies partly in the country’s education system.
Too many students are pursuing humanities degrees, leaving engineering and technical fields with too few graduates. His comments were reported by the Interfax news agency.
The shortage of workers is not limited to the defense industry. Compulsory mobilization has sent hundreds of thousands of men to the front lines, leaving other sectors scrambling to find employees. '
Many industries that rely on less specialized workers are struggling to maintain their operations.
Russia’s demographic trends have only made matters worse. For years, the country has faced low birth rates, leading to a shrinking labor pool. This issue has been a persistent problem for the economy and is now being magnified by the war.
The combination of these factors is creating serious challenges for Russia’s economic stability. '
Mobilization efforts have removed a significant portion of the workforce, and demographic trends suggest the labor shortage will not ease anytime soon.
The defense industry, vital to Russia’s war efforts, may find it increasingly difficult to meet production demands.
