Expert Sklyanchuk told why janitors “hung up their shovels on a nail”

There are not enough workers in the housing and communal services system: who can fill the vacancies?

An unusually snowy and frosty winter revealed an acute shortage of personnel in the housing and communal services system. In almost all regions of the country, residents complained about poor snow removal. And there is no need to be indignant: according to recruiting agencies, the shortage of snowplow drivers is 14%. Almost the same number (13%) are short of janitors—broom and shovel workers. So the townspeople had to jump through snowdrifts on their way to work…

Plumbers were also in the “red zone”. However, compared to 2023, the number of unfilled vacancies has remained almost unchanged. But the number of active resumes “for competition” decreased by 20%. A little more, and tenants will begin to fix leaks in pipes themselves, as best they can.

In fact, these professions in communal services turned out to be the lowest paid last year. Despite the increase in salaries in 2023 by approximately 20%, the median salary for plumbers is about 65 thousand rubles per month, and for janitors it is about 30 thousand. Let us remember that in Soviet times it was still necessary to get a job as a janitor; not everyone was hired there. Who will go for 30 thousand today?

In general, the current industry average demand for workers in February 2024 is estimated at 250 thousand vacancies, which is 45% higher than last year.

And the highest paid specialists in communal services, as evidenced by the same vacancy statistics, are welders. They are offered an average of 105 thousand rubles per month.

Officially, the shortage of personnel in the public utilities sector is explained by the massive outflow of labor migrants to other areas of activity where salaries are higher. In particular, in the service sector, transport and logistics.

However, Pavel Sklyanchuk, an expert in the field of housing and communal services, an analyst of the ONF thematic platform “Housing and the Urban Environment,” does not agree with this statement.

“Most of the staff from the communal apartments have switched to working as self-employed and migrant workers have nothing to do with it,” he explains. – Today there are many special websites where you can order the services of the same plumbers or electricians. These people work for themselves. This is more profitable than the rate in the management company. Forms of employment are becoming more flexible. This is a signal that can change the housing and communal services management system. Each management company must have the necessary staff and take into account changes in the labor market.

– But janitors will not become self-employed. They shoveled enough snow last winter, but it didn’t affect their salaries in any way. Should the thickness of the snow fall be taken into account when paying them for their labor?

– The situation here is different. Because of the snowy winter, many simply quit their jobs and “hung up their shovels.” Responsible employers should understand such things and, within the framework of the bonus fund, reward their distinguished employees. Most likely, management companies did not take into account the increased volume of work.

– But it is believed that it is difficult for a Russian to get a job as a janitor, everything is taken over by guest workers…

– Some management companies prefer to keep migrant workers in order to evade taxes and contributions to various funds. They give their workers low wages and pay the rest in envelopes. Migrants are happy with this system, but Russians are not. They need a “white” salary to secure their pension.

– In order to increase the income of housing and communal services employees, there were proposals to include the amounts of their salaries in utility tariffs, which are constantly growing…

– Do not include salaries, but indexation in accordance with inflation. Some employers have not raised wages for years, hence the problems with personnel. Such a decision must be enshrined at the legislative level. So that when indexing tariffs, the growth in wages of utility workers is “colored.”

– But then the rates for residents will increase! Where can they grow further? Vicious circle…

– This can be done within the existing limits, through the redistribution of expenses. It has already been announced that the government will direct additional investments into the housing and communal services system. However, the issue of personnel shortage was never raised at the official level. Although investments in human capital are also important. Everything is interconnected. We will update our equipment, and then it will turn out that there is no one to work on it.