As of January 2025, 13% of all migrant workers in Russia were employed in the construction sector. What roles can Indian workers fill in Russian companies, and what should they expect from the hiring process?
Construction industry trends
By 2030, Russia plans to build nearly 700 million square metres of residential property, upgrade over 50,000 kilometres of utility networks, and modernise more than 2,000 drinking water facilities as part of the national Infrastructure For Life project. This only adds to the existing need for the construction industry to significantly expand its workforce.
Top 5 industries with the highest demand for personnel in March 2025 (ranked by number of vacancies, in descending order)
Source: Superjob
“We will soon be seeing particularly high demand for concrete workers, bricklayers, roofers, steel and reinforced concrete experts, building services engineers and technicians, and finishing specialists,” says Nadezhda Prokopyeva, deputy head of the Executive Office at the National Association of Surveyors and Designers. In an effort to reduce the labour shortage, companies are already raising wages and hiring foreign workers.
For more on economic developments in Russia in 2025, check out our article on Russia’s Economy in 2025: GDP Growth, Inflation, and Major Trends
Companies already employing Indian construction workers
Samolet Group has been hiring construction workers from India on a trial basis since the beginning of the year. Around the same time, a similar initiative was launched by Velesstroy.
In April 2025, Brusnika went as far as bringing its first team of skilled Indian specialists to their construction site in Tyumen. This took place in five stages:
“For our project in Tyumen, we hired an entire crew of reinforced concrete specialists from India,” explains Lev Obydyenov, head of the Contractors Department at Brusnika. “The team included rebar workers, carpenters, installers, concrete workers, polishers, and slingers. The most important selection criterion was prior international work experience and a solid foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.”
According to data from Rabota.ru, Russian companies are already looking to India for BIM (Building Information Model) design engineers, civil engineers, internationally certified welders, industrial equipment installation technicians, and IT specialists in the housing and utilities sector.
Advantages of hiring from India
For the employer | For the Indian employee |
|---|---|
Stability: contracts are typically signed for one year. During this period, the employee cannot change employers as easily as a local worker. | Competitive salary: the average salary of a concrete worker in India is around RUB 8,700, while in Russia salaries start at RUB 75,000. |
Cost-effective labour: employers are happy with Indian workers’ salary expectations. | Benefits: Under Russian law, the employer is obliged to arrange all necessary work permits, register the employee with the migration authorities, and provide relocation support. |
How qualifications are verified
Among the factors currently hindering the large-scale employment of construction workers from India, Nadezhda Prokopyeva highlights the language barrier and differences in construction methods and regulations.
“Employers want candidates to have the relevant experience and skills necessary to compete with their Russian counterparts. In addition, the recruitment of Indian specialists usually requires proof of qualifications, obtaining a work permit, and cultural adaptation,” adds Alexander Veterkov, deputy CEO of Rabota.ru.
Alla Faktorovich, deputy general director at the National Agency for Qualifications Development, notes that in order to work in construction in Russia, Indian citizens must confirm their qualifications, especially where hazardous industrial facilities are concerned. A procedure for the independent assessment of qualifications already exists, and is mandatory for many construction specialties. Foreign citizens can take a professional exam at qualification assessment centres in Russia, but this can be both inconvenient and expensive for labour migrants and employers. An alternative option is to confirm qualifications in the country of origin. Industry councils for professional qualifications are already implementing this approach. For example, the council for professional qualifications in welding has a platform for conducting exams in India (Navi Mumbai). In the future, we could see similar examination platforms appearing for construction specialists.
“The National Agency of Welding Control has set up centres in Mumbai, Surat, and Haripur where local welders can have their qualifications certified in accordance with Russian legislation,” says Alexander Chuprak, chair of the Council for Professional Qualifications in Welding. According to Chuprak, over 4,500 Indian welders have successfully passed the certification exam since 2023 and are now working in Russia. The number of domestic and international examination centres, as well as the list of qualifications available for certification, continues to grow as Russia’s national qualifications system is gradually harmonised with those of other BRICS countries.
“In 2025, we received several mass recruitment requests from organisations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other regions,” says Anton Glushkov, President of the National Builders Association. “In April, we signed an agreement with a major Indian company that assists in talent acquisition for overseas employment.”
Thanks to this collaboration, more Indian specialists will soon be working on construction sites across Russia.
Business advisory services in Russia and assistance with international payments can be sought at Sberbank’s branch in India.
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