In Russia, Entry-Level Workers Without AI Skills Face Shrinking Job Market

At Russia’s St.Petersburg International Economic Forum, experts warned that AI fluency is quickly becoming essential—even for junior hires.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly redefining Russia’s job market, and young professionals without AI skills may soon find themselves shut out of many career paths. That was the consensus among experts at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where the workforce impact of new technologies took center stage.

By 2027, most entry-level positions will require at least a basic understanding of how to work with AI, analysts said. Already, employers are favoring candidates who can operate AI tools—even for junior roles—while candidates without these skills are quickly falling behind.

The IT sector appears to be ground zero for this shift. Despite a surplus of entry-level applicants, there’s a severe shortage of workers who can effectively collaborate with AI systems.

According to panelists, 40% of job listings for junior roles in 2024 already included AI proficiency as a requirement. Kirill Menshov, Senior Vice President and Head of Technology at Sberbank, said companies are willing to take on new hires—but only if they can contribute in tandem with AI. Otherwise, he warned, productivity suffers significantly.

In response, Russian education providers are ramping up their offerings. In 2025, enrollment in AI literacy programs has already tripled compared to the previous year.