The Russian construction industry lacks 5 million workers

To achieve the goal of commissioning more than 120 million sq. m of housing in Russia, the construction industry lacks 5 million workers, said Anton Moroz, vice president of the National Association of Builders. He clarified that Rosstat estimates the shortage of specialists in the industry by half – 2.5 million people.

According to Mr. Morozov, the mass exodus of migrants during the coronavirus pandemic led to a shortage of workers. In addition, the reorientation of foreign citizens to other markets has begun, which is why positive dynamics in the industry are not expected in the near future, Anton Moroz noted.

“Today, about 6.5 million workers are involved in the construction industry. To fulfill the tasks of the national project to commission 120 million “squares” of housing, according to our estimates, it is necessary to involve up to 11.5 million people, that is, now another 5 million workers are needed, ”he said at a development forum in Moscow (quoted from “RIA News”).

In September, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin spokethat construction sites in Russia can attract convicts on light economic articles. According to him, 20,000-50,000 North Korean workers may also be involved in construction sites. He thinksthat the productivity of workers from the DPRK is 2.5 times higher than that of Russian workers.

In October, developers began to ask for a deferment for employees who fell under partial mobilization, which was announced from September 21. Representatives of the construction industry appealed to the relevant departments with an appeal to provide reservations to workers who occupy critical positions. Companies fear that due to a shortage of personnel, they will have to freeze some projects.

Details – in the material “Kommersant FM” “Mobilize – do not build”.

Laura Keffer