Over a million individuals in Russia are recognized as IT professionals within the government sector, according to the Ministry of Digital.
Increase in IT Workforce and Skills Gap
According to recent reports, the number of employees in the Russian IT sector has risen by 50% over the past five years, reaching 1.01 million as of the end of 2024. Despite this growth, the Minister of Digital Development has raised concerns about the current workforce composition, particularly the dominance of junior IT specialists, who are entry-level professionals, while the sector's demand remains for mid-level and experienced professionals.
The minister noted that while many aspiring professionals are eager to enter the industry, the quality of their training may not meet the expectations of large companies. Maksut Shadaev, an industry expert, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that consolidation could help self-regulate the issue.
However, the minister encourages the younger generation to pursue careers in IT, especially in emerging fields such as robotics and AI. The sector boasted the highest average salaries in 2024, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025, albeit not for all IT specialists.
Alexei Zakharov, president of the SuperJob job search service, explained in an interview with TASS that employers are placing greater emphasis on practical experience. While the market is saturated with online course graduates, those from top universities remain in high demand. Additionally, Zakharov reported that the growth in junior IT specialists' salaries has stagnated over the past two years.
As the Russian IT market continues to expand, driven by factors such as the transition to domestic technologies and the industry's resilience in the face of economic challenges, the demand for experienced developers persists. These professionals are crucial in managing complex projects, maintaining domestic solutions, and innovating within the sector. The sector's need for mid- and high-level developers stems from the increasing complexity of technological advancements, where entry-level specialists often lack the requisite depth of experience.
- The Minister of Digital Development has voiced concerns about the demand for mid-level and experienced professionals in the Russian IT sector, given the current dominance of junior IT specialists, despite the industry's booming growth.
- As the Russian IT market continues to expand, the need for mid- and high-level developers increases, due to the growing complexity of technological advancements, where entry-level specialists often lack the requisite depth of experience.
