Timur Kebekov: "Kavkaz.RF is accumulating resources in the North Caucasus Federal District to address the tourism labor shortage."
Amid active investment growth, the construction of all-season resorts, and infrastructure development, the North Caucasus is facing a severe labor shortage. There is a shortage of line and technical personnel, and young professionals are leaving for larger cities. By 2030, the labor shortage in the tourism sector could reach 100,000 people. Staffing issues for the North Caucasus Federal District's tourism industry were actively discussed at the Caucasus Investment Forum. Answers and solutions were discussed during a session moderated by Timur Kebekov, Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF, with the participation of key industry experts.
Representatives of the online recruiting platform Headhunter provided analysis of the labor market in the North Caucasus Federal District. Research by hh.ru showed that there is an imbalance between professional fields in the regions. In some sectors, there is a surplus of personnel, while in others, there is a shortage. Tourism and hospitality are experiencing shortages. Experts say the problem isn't a lack of job seekers, but rather their distribution. Demand is highest for versatile professionals and mainstream positions. These are people who work directly with tourists. This is where the talent shortage is most acute.
At the same time, statistics show that job seekers from the hotel and restaurant industry are more likely than others to be confident they'll find work within three months. Hospitality employers are interested in filling positions quickly, so the chances of finding a job here are higher than average. This results in high demand on the one hand and a risk of staff turnover on the other.
"Colleagues' statistics show that blue-collar workers in the hospitality industry often receive higher salaries than they expected. Employers pay above market expectations, but the problem still remains. I believe the talent shortage in the North Caucasus Federal District's tourism sector is not a salary-related issue, but a systemic one. And this problem needs to be addressed not through isolated measures, but by transitioning to a sustainable training model. "Therefore, the goal of our expert community today is to move from a personnel shortage to a systemic solution. To do this, we must pool our resources—utilize analytics, apply public policy mechanisms, productivity-enhancing tools, and a digital ecosystem—and also consider the concept of an industry training center," said Timur Kebekov.
Public investment in the North Caucasus Federal District's tourism infrastructure from 2020 to 2025 amounted to 70.5 billion rubles, and an additional 200 billion rubles in extra-budgetary investment is expected by 2030, which will ensure the creation of 42,000 new accommodations. "Each of these means new jobs for maids, technicians, administrators, managers, and marketers. To forecast personnel needs, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, together with the Russian State University of Tourism and Service, has developed a calculation model that allows for planning," said Anastasia Zolotukhina, Director of the Department for Development of the Social Sphere and Non-Profit Organizations.
Another solution is the work of the Association for the Development of Human Resources in the Tourism Industry and the North Caucasus Federal District Career Portal. Created by Kavkaz.RF, the Association aims to engage employers in developing targeted training programs so that universities and vocational schools understand the current shortage of specialists. The career portal aims to make the North Caucasus labor market more transparent and understandable for job seekers, employers, and educational institutions, addressing staffing needs not only immediately but also over the long term. This makes it possible to saturate the industry with competent workers of various skill levels and correct the imbalance between professional fields in the labor market. This close, comprehensive collaboration resulted in a cooperation agreement between the development institute and HeadHunter, as well as a roadmap for personnel training with the North Caucasus Federal University. The signing of these strategic documents took place during the Caucasus Investment Forum.