The trend of Russians seeking employment abroad has returned to early 2022 levels, according to a report from “Izvestia” citing experts from the recruitment service HeadHunter. The decline is attributed to employment challenges abroad, difficulties with financial transfers, and strict immigration policies.
Despite some still searching for opportunities overseas, only about 13,400 people, or 0.04% of all profiles from January to March this year, were actively looking—down from 0.12% at the end of 2022. The total number of profiles analyzed was 34 million. Professionals in IT, investment, marketing, and media most frequently seek jobs overseas, with popular destinations including Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, 3.6% are reconsidering employment within Russia.
Bloomberg specialists noted a trend of Russians returning home, with about 45% of those who left in 2022 coming back. Common reasons include difficulties in extending residence permits, job hunting, and managing financial transactions abroad.
This return migration is believed to bolster the Russian economy, although returnees only represent 0.3% of the domestically employed population. Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary for the President of Russia, previously stated that Russia offers more business opportunities.
Alexey Tarapovskiy, founder of Anderida Financial Group, agrees that fewer compatriots now wish to relocate and work abroad. He noted that many express a desire to earn money overseas, but very few actively explore real opportunities to do so.
This trend is driven by Russia’s current labor market situation, according to economist Alla Vavilina. A staffing shortage has led employers to increase wages and improve working conditions.
Furthermore, Russians moving abroad often face challenges, including difficulties with money transfers, lack of job opportunities, and xenophobia from locals.
Professor Yulia Dolzhenkova from the Financial University clarified that migrants are often relegated to low-skilled jobs because countries have their own specialists for more serious professions.
However, Vavilina emphasized that the flow of Russians to other countries has not stopped entirely, as many domestic companies have relocated their offices abroad, requiring employees to move to continue their jobs.
Dolzhenkova noted that migration, particularly for employment, is an ongoing international trend, though only a small fraction of Russians participate. Experts believe that more Russians will continue to return from abroad in the future.
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