Russia Faces Worker Shortage, Looks to Migrants for Growth

• Nov 24, 2024

Russia is grappling with a declining population, creating an urgent need for migrant workers to sustain its development, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with RIA Novosti on November 22. He emphasized that migration is essential for the country’s growth.

“Migrants are a necessity. The fact is, we are facing a very strained demographic situation. We live in the largest country in the world, but there are very few of us,” Peskov stated.

To support Russia’s dynamic development and achieve its goals, he noted, the country needs workers and welcomes lawful migrants. However, he acknowledged challenges associated with illegal migration, which he argued can foster conditions for issues such as “religious extremism” and “drug abuse.”

This statement comes as xenophobic sentiments rise in Russia, fueled by a violent Islamist attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall in March that killed over 140 people. Four Tajik labor migrants accused of carrying out the attack remain in custody awaiting trial.

Peskov sought to differentiate between lawful and unlawful migration, stressing the Kremlin’s intent to address illegal migration while continuing to rely on foreign labor. This reliance is highlighted by a survey conducted by hh.ru and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) in October. It found that 53% of companies employing migrants were experiencing a worker shortage, a problem likely to worsen due to stricter measures targeting illegal migration.

The labor shortage is further exacerbated by the prolonged war in Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Russian men and redirected resources to the war economy. This has intensified worker shortages in non-military sectors.

Central Asian workers, especially from countries like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, play a crucial role in Russia’s economy. For example, Kyrgyz media outlet 24.kg reported that 77,000 Kyrgyz nationals work as taxi drivers in Moscow alone, compared to just 1,500 drivers from non-Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries.

Meanwhile, some outlets like Tajikistan’s Asia-Plus accuse Russian media and politicians of promoting anti-migrant propaganda by exaggerating crime statistics and manipulating data to stoke fear.

Despite these tensions, Russia’s reliance on migrant workers remains evident, with experts warning that stricter migration policies could further strain its already challenged workforce.