Every Fourth Company In Russia Has Started Laying Off Employees

• 20.01.2026, 13:14

Because of financial problems.

In 2025, 25% of Russian employers will reduce their staff amid a sharp slowdown in the economy, according to a study by Get experts, the data of which are cited by "Izvestia". 51% of the companies that took such a decision reduced the number of employees by 11-20%, and 18% - by 21-30%.

The main reason for the cuts was financial difficulties, as stated by 66% of employers. 37% explained their decision by the change of organizational structure. 22% of respondents pointed to problems with recruitment or replacement of personnel, 17% - to the shortage of qualified specialists.

Another 13% connected layoffs with a drop in sales or alienation of part of the business. Over two years, the share of companies that have reduced staff has grown 2.5 times. In 2023, 10% of employers took such measures.

Also in 2025, 32% of companies reported an increase in staff turnover. In 52% of cases employees left on their own initiative, in 20% - by the decision of their superiors, and in 28% of cases both options were combined.

The most scarce employers named narrow-profile specialists (65%), "blue-collar" (43%) and middle managers (28%). The greatest difficulties were encountered in finding and retaining representatives of working specialties, IT specialists, as well as professionals in sales and commerce.

In this regard, almost half of the companies (49%) resorted to attempts to re-hire former employees, but in most cases the share of returning employees did not exceed 5%. In addition, 64% of employers switched to "silver" age applicants - 55 years and older.

In 2026, companies predict a continued shortage of staff, primarily among specialized specialists and working professions. According to their estimates, sales, IT and production will remain the key areas of recruitment.