In a significant move to address the growing workforce crisis in its industrial sectors, Russia is set to import up to one million skilled workers from India by the end of 2025, according to a leading business figure.
Speaking to RosBusinessConsulting (RBC), Andrey Besedin, head of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, revealed that Indian specialists are expected to help bridge the labour gap, particularly in regions like Sverdlovsk, home to key defense and manufacturing industries.
“By the end of the year, around one million Indian professionals will arrive in Russia, including the Sverdlovsk region. A new Indian Consulate General is opening in Yekaterinburg to assist with these developments,” Besedin confirmed.
Why India?
The Sverdlovsk region, with Yekaterinburg as its capital, is a powerhouse of Russian heavy industry and the military-industrial complex. Iconic facilities like Uralmash and UralVagonZavod, the manufacturer of the T-90 tank series, are based here.
However, industrial expansion is being held back by a serious shortage of skilled labor. Besedin noted that some factory workers are currently deployed in the ongoing military operations in Ukraine, while many young Russians are turning away from industrial jobs altogether.
India’s vast talent pool, particularly in engineering and technical fields, is seen as a timely solution.
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first wave of Indian workers arriving in Russia. In 2024, Indian migrants were brought in to work at various enterprises across the country, including the Za Rodinu fish processing plant in Kaliningrad, which was facing severe staffing shortages.
Russia is also exploring additional workforce options from Sri Lanka and North Korea, although those efforts face more complex logistical and political challenges.
The Bigger Picture: 3.1 Million Workers Needed by 2030
According to projections by the Russian Ministry of Labour, the country is expected to face a workforce deficit of 3.1 million by 2030. To tackle this, the ministry is planning to increase quotas for hiring foreign professionals by 1.5 times in 2025, targeting around 230,000 qualified workers.
In 2024 alone, Russia hired 47,000 skilled migrants from non-CIS countries, a number expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
The Ministry of Economic Development has also advocated for diversifying the sources of migrant labor, suggesting a broader outreach to countries beyond the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Tighter Migration Controls Post-Terror Attack
Despite the growing demand for foreign workers, Russian authorities have recently implemented stricter migration controls, particularly after the March 2024 terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow. This has led to tightened scrutiny over migrants from former Soviet republics, shifting attention toward countries like India with strong bilateral ties and a reputation for skilled labor.
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