Transformation of the Russian labor market in the context of the pandemic: key issues and trends

The article discusses the main problems and trends in the labor market in the context of pandemics using the example of the COVID-2019 virus pandemic. The most typical consequences of the pandemic and its impact on the labor market are identified, including the growth of unemployment, the decline in employment, mass layoffs of workers, and the structural transformation of the labor market. The industries most and least affected by the COVID-2019 pandemic are highlighted. It is emphasized that the most important direction in the transformation of the domestic labor market will be digitalization, which was triggered by the global pandemic in 2020. Among the key areas in the labor market in the field of digitalization, remote forms of work and the emergence and development of new “digital” professions were highlighted. It was revealed that during the months of quarantine measures adopted in the Russian Federation, the number of vacancies in “digital” professions increased on job search websites, including specialists in contextual advertising, targetologists, administrators of online schools, SMM managers, copywriters, and personal online assistants. The analysis of the average level of remuneration of employees of “digital” professions in Russia is carried out. It is concluded that such a transformation of the labor market will require labor resources to acquire fundamentally new skills and competencies, as well as readiness for continuous training. The article uses general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, classification, the method of system analysis, the statistical method of studying economic processes, and information analysis.