Abstract:

Russian Arctic zone strategic goal includes national interests’ implementation providing both national security and sustainable socio-economic progress as well as Arctic innovative development.

However, it is a very well known fact that Arctic is a sparsely populated area. Over the past 10 years its population has decreased by 4%. Natural population increase in Arctic does not compensate the population outflow.

In this context, logical question arises: who will be resposible for the Arctic development? Who will work in the Arctic?
Both labour resources composition and movement analysis as well as forecast demand in qualified workers has shown that the situation in a labour market in terms of bridging demand and supply can be described as “almost balanced”. At the same time both supply and demand details show a large number of structural imbalances. It means that even a limited population of the Arctic zone cannot find job places in accordance with their diplomas.

In order to solve this problem, there’s a number of proposed measures:
1. Conceptual approach of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Training Foundation (ETF) on “early warning system” development. Russian adapted version is already widely known as a "transparent labour market information environment".
2. Both development and implementation of up-to-date tools:
• TOP-205 Arctic occupations in demand. It may be utilized by people as a reference point for choosing demanded occupations for the purpose of training and retraining; and by educational organizations for updating curricula;
• "Occupational barometer", developed in Finland and adopted in Russia, shows the lists and geography of highly demanded occupations by regions.
• "Professiograms" visually present key features of demanded occupations.

Thus, a comprehensive approach was suggested in order to solve the problem of Russian Arctic Zone’s recruitment needs. Main solution is presented with information dissemination for the purpose of target groups’ awareness on a labour market situation. Labour market information shall be presented both timely and visually on both demanded occupations and their characteristics.

This toolkit has already been developed and tested. Current task for today is to disseminate this toolkit, to engraft population with new culture of objective data application while decision-making.

Keywords:

Russian Arctic zone, employability, occupations in demand, recruitment needs.