The employment of the Russian population and its character is determined by various factors. First of all, this is the raw material orientation of the Russian economy, monocentrism, the prevalence of market relations and sufficient technological backwardness. The nature of employment is also affected by the size of real wages. Labor productivity in our country is low, which means that more labor is required. At the same time, finding a job in a specialty is not always possible.
Legal and shadow employment
In Russia, there is an acute problem with the legalization of employment. Every year, the number of workers employed in the informal sector of the economy is growing rapidly. In 2016, according to official figures, their share amounted to 21.2% of the total number - only 15.4 million people. This shows the structure of employment in Russia. Those involved in shadow employment can conditionally be divided into 2 types:
- Those who receive a salary without paying taxes.
- The so-called self-employed, who work informally and also do not pay taxes.
The above figures are probably underestimated, since accounting for such sectors is extremely difficult. For example, the estimates given by the RANEPA give a figure of 40%. True, those who have an official job, but who additionally earn extra money in the informal sector, are also included in it.
Every year, both the number of self-employed and the number of those who receive “gray” salaries at the place of work, or have informal part-time jobs, increase. So, the number of people receiving a “gray” salary from 2013 to 2016 increased from 35 to 54 percent.
Reasons for Shadow Employment Growth
One of the main reasons for the growth of the informal sector is the frequent reduction of employees from various organizations where they worked officially. An increase in the number of migrants also contributes to an increase in the proportion of informal part-time jobs. The desire to save on employees is becoming a frequent occurrence. This allows you to more heavily load the remaining workers, and possibly slightly increase their salaries. The latter may be especially relevant in the event of an increase in the minimum wage. However, in other cases, salaries, on the contrary, are cut, including to a level below the minimum wage. This forces employees to look for another job, becoming temporarily unemployed.
Some of the laid-offs are moving into the sphere of shadow employment. For many companies, the dismissal of employees is the only way to survive in the difficult economic conditions prevailing in Russia in recent years.
Other factors were: an increase in taxes and fees, widespread bureaucracy, a general decrease in real wages in the public sector. Many are now forced to earn extra money to cover their debts or buy a car, since the latter category of expenses has become very prestigious. Many want to improve their housing or just earn more or less worthy. In these cases, part-time jobs coincide with the main job, but they can also be shady.
Employment Statistics of Russia
Employment and unemployment are largely interconnected. When a salary becomes too low or a person is cut, he may become unemployed for a while. Someone goes to the labor exchange, but there are few of them. Indeed, unemployment benefits do not grow, and their size is absolutely miserable. Yes, and work on the exchange is often offered the most indecent, to which few agree.
There are two ways to calculate the number of unemployed:
- By the number of applicants to the labor exchange.
- According to direct surveys of the population.
It is clear that the second option will give more objective information about the real situation with employment.
According to Rosstat figures, about 5% of the unemployed in Russia. According to independent sources, in reality it is 2-2.5 times higher. Higher rates, of course, among young people. This means that the problems of employment in Russia are not invented by opponents of the current government.
However, the status of unemployed does not mean a person’s lack of employment. Indeed, many earn extra money informally, that is, in fact, they are both employed and unemployed at the same time.
Employment of the population of the regions of Russia
In Russia, the division into economically prosperous and backward regions is quite pronounced. The first include oil and gas producing regions, regions of the Far North, the capital region, some agricultural and other areas. However, most of the country is more or less backward. Dependence on the size of cities is also observed: small cities and towns account for the majority of the unemployed. This means that there are problems with employment.
The situation with employment in 3-4 years
According to experts, the coming years may show a worsening employment situation. A gradual increase in the retirement age and the desire of many organizations to get rid of "extra" employees can lead to a staffing surplus. Unemployment may increase up to 25%. It will be so or not, only time will tell, however, unemployment is expected to increase already in 2018. Most likely, the process went on before that. At least, the number of those dismissed increased.
Most of all, IT specialists will be in demand on the labor market. High demand is also likely for workers in the oil industry, new technologies, and in industrial sectors. At the same time, the demand for low-skilled labor will sharply decrease. This means that it will not be easy for a simple worker to find work. A market economy is not a planned socialist economy. If employees are not needed, then they will simply get rid of them.
Employee Requirements
Already, Russian citizens are forced to agree to any, even poorly paid work. But by 2022, the situation could become even tougher. Many employers have increased demands on their employees. At the same time, the institution of trade unions in our country, unlike other states, is strangled in the bud. In addition, our salaries are almost not standardized, and directors can receive dozens of times higher than employees. People have no one to turn to for help, and they are forced to agree to the demands of the boss. For example, work on weekends or overtime.
In the future, employer requirements for employees are likely to grow.