Demand for AI Specialists in Russia Is Skyrocketing
In Russia’s Ural region alone, job postings requiring AI-related skills have surged by 44% in just six months.
More Jobs, Not Fewer
There’s been plenty of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI) putting people out of work. But for now, that future is far from reality. In fact, the demand for professionals who know how to work with neural networks and other advanced AI systems is booming.
Nowhere is this trend more pronounced than in the Ural region of Russia. In just the first half of this year, more than 1,000 job openings requiring AI skills were posted there—a 44% increase, according to a joint study by online recruitment platform hh.ru and the federal upskilling institute GlavPro.
Sverdlovsk Region saw the highest spike, with a 56% increase in AI-related job postings. In Chelyabinsk, the increase was 29%, and in Tyumen, 11%.
Across sectors, 19% of job listings seeking AI skills were for sales managers, 8% for IT professionals, and 6% for digital marketers. The demand for programmers has nearly doubled, and job listings for sales professionals mentioning AI have risen by one-third.
AI Skills Are a Pay Booster
According to Oksana Sidletskaya, head of hh.ru Ural, at least 17% of employers now take experience with neural networks into account when evaluating candidates. And 11% are willing to pay a premium for those skills.
The demand is expected to rise even further in the Chelyabinsk region, where a new regional AI Council was recently launched at the initiative of Governor Alexey Teksler.
“We’ve declared our readiness to participate in pilot projects with Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, especially in deploying federal AI-powered services. Chelyabinsk has a strong starting position and good prospects to become a leader in this space. In addition to adopting national support measures, we’re developing regional incentives for the IT sector,” said Teksler.
He added that the region’s digital infrastructure is advancing rapidly. As of now, 91% of households have access to broadband, and more than 1,100 IT companies operate in the region—231 of them officially accredited by the federal ministry.
Training the Next Generation
Meeting the rising demand for talent requires new pipelines. That’s why South Ural State University was awarded a federal grant to open two new educational centers: VirtUM and Digital Ural. Both focus on training elite AI and IT specialists.
“For several years now, developing AI technologies has been one of our strategic priorities,” said university president Alexander Wagner. “That’s why we’re investing heavily in specialized research and education centers, labs, and academic departments.”
In total, nine universities and 24 colleges in the Chelyabinsk region are actively preparing future IT professionals.
Toward a Global AI Workforce
To meet employer needs, the region also runs a variety of fast-track and retraining programs for professionals making the switch to the digital sector. Top-performing graduates have opportunities to work on the global stage.
Several local companies are residents of the Skolkovo Innovation Center—including Neurotechnology and Programlab—and are already collaborating with international partners.
Nationwide, the AI labor market is expanding at a breakneck pace. According to job platform Avito Rabota, the number of listings requiring AI-related skills grew by 314% in 2024 compared to the previous year. The most in-demand roles include content managers, developers, and copywriters.
Far from replacing workers, AI is creating new employment opportunities—and often, with higher pay. The Russian government is doing its part to make these new skills accessible to as many citizens as possible.
