DEVELOPMENT OF THE LABOUR MARKET IN THE ECONOMY OF RUSSIA’S REGIONS

The labour market is a key indicator of the socio economic condition of regions and, at the same time, a factor in their development: employment dynamics, the structure of labour demand, the unemployment rate and wages reflect sectoral shifts, investment activity and demographic trends. The article examines the development of the labour market in the regions of the Russian Federation over a five year period (2020–2024), with a focus on interregional differences and structural transformations. The object of the study is the regional labour market of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation; the subject is the dynamics and factors driving the development of labour supply and demand, as well as the effectiveness of state employment regulation measures. The aim of the work is to identify sustainable trends and disparities in the regional labour market, and to assess the impact of sectoral specialisation, demographics and economic policy on employment and household incomes. To achieve this aim, the following methods were applied: comparative and index analysis, correlation comparison of employment indicators with GRP (gross regional product) and investment data, and clustering of regions by the level of labour market tension. The information base comprises official Rosstat data (the Russian Statistical Yearbook, regional compilations and operational publications), as well as information from the Ministry of Labour and employment services. The analysis identified groups of regions with accelerated employment growth (mainly in manufacturing and the IT sector), stagnant labour markets (resource dependent and single industry areas) and high labour market tension (low labour demand coupled with high unemployment). Particular attention is paid to the transformation of the employment structure in the context of import substitution, digitalisation and changes in logistics. The research findings confirm the presence of pronounced interregional differentiation: in some regions, employment growth is accompanied by an increase in labour productivity and real wages, while in others, a structural imbalance and low labour mobility persist. As recommendations, measures are proposed to strengthen targeted regional employment policies, develop retraining programmes tailored to the needs of local economies, stimulate labour mobility and expand digital job search platforms.