While a boost in the domestic sector has appeared as a bright spot for Russia, firms are facing a labour shortage with thousands of people sent to the frontline.
A recent survey by recruitment website Superjob found that 85 per cent of Russian companies are experiencing labour shortage.
Restaurants in particular said they are constantly struggling to find enough workers.
President of the Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers of Russia Igor Bukharov said that the industry is at least 25 per cent short on manpower.
“There’s a lack of qualified staff. The number of schools that educate qualified chefs is simply not enough. We lack qualified specialists. Even if they don’t have a lot of experience. But there are just not enough good certified specialists,” said Mr Kirill Martynenko, managing partner at eatery Torro Grill.
There is also a lack of taxi and delivery truck drivers, medical staff, manufacturing and IT engineers in the nation.
Analysts said that Russia is transiting from being a place with a cheap, abundant workforce to a market of expensive labour and staff shortage.
“This deficit will not disappear by itself,” said Ms Elena Kuznetsova, a partner at international consulting firm Yakov and Partners.
“The economy demands even more jobs, qualified jobs, because manufacturing is growing, there are all kinds of import substitution projects going on, there are transportation projects.”
The authorities acknowledged that labour shortage is becoming a real problem and urged increased productivity.
