Published on: 2026-07-17
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Graduation parties at colleges and technical schools have ended, with around 1 million young specialists entering the labor market. This is the highest figure in recent years: five years ago, the number of graduates was about 700 thousand.
“We are systematically addressing the issue of training highly qualified workers – this is noted by our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. This year, the number of budget places in colleges has increased by 30 thousand – up to 880 thousand, the number of clusters of the federal project ‘Professionalitet’ of the national project ‘Youth and Children’ is growing. It is important that efforts to develop the secondary vocational education system are yielding concrete results. Employers are more actively posting targeted training offers, and students are choosing directions important for our country’s technological leadership,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
Those taking the state final certification in the form of a demonstration exam most often chose the following directions: “Information Systems and Programming”, “Construction and Operation of Buildings and Structures”, “Welder”, “Agricultural Production Master”, “Technical Maintenance and Repair of Vehicles”.
“In 2026, the system of secondary vocational education is demonstrating record indicators. We are noting interest in engineering and IT specialties, which have become the most popular in the demonstration exams. I would like to emphasize separately: we are increasing the volumes of targeted training. And we see that this is an effective tool that helps to link the ambitions of young people with the real needs of factories and companies. Colleges are becoming an entry point into the profession with employment guarantees,” stated Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.
For the first time this year, graduation took place in completely new programs: the specialty “Ensuring the Activities of the Employment Service” and the professions “Vertical Transport Master” and “Master of Emergency Restoration Work on Water Supply and Sewerage Networks.”
“The VET system today not only awards diplomas but also develops true leaders and guarantees employment. The rate at which graduates secure their first job has consistently exceeded 80% for several years,” emphasized the head of the department.
One of the tools for targeted personnel support of enterprises is targeted training. Its systematic development is indicated by the positive dynamics of its use. Thus, in 2024, customers posted more than 65.8 thousand offers and concluded over 11.5 thousand contracts for targeted training under vocational secondary education programs. In 2025 – more than 70.2 thousand offers and 25.1 thousand contracts. In 2026, more than 44.1 thousand offers have already been posted on the “Work of Russia” portal, and by the end of the year their number is planned to exceed 80 thousand. To date, over 18.2 thousand applications for targeted training under vocational secondary education programs have been submitted, and 6077 contracts have been concluded. More than 40 thousand contracts are expected to be concluded by the end of the year. Among the largest industrial customers are Rostec State Corporation, Rosatom State Corporation, Ural Steel JSC, BTK Group JSC, EuroChem JSC, Evraz Group LLC, Sibur Holding PJSC, Russian Railways OJSC, Gazprom Neft PJSC, Tatneft PJSC, Lukoil – Western Siberia LLC, Severstal PJSC, Apatit JSC, and Rostelecom PJSC.
Bright examples of how talent, supported by quality education, leads to a rapid professional rise are the stories of specific graduates.
Thus, Pavel Mankoshev completed his studies at the Polytechnic College of Novgorod State University in the field of “Information Systems and Programming.” He won the All-Russian High Technology Championship in the competency “Data Analysis Specialist (BI Analyst)” and today he develops the server-side of projects at the company “1 Games.”
Evgeny Shkodov from the Volgodonsk Metalworking and Mechanical Engineering College became the winner of the regional stage of the “Professionals-2026” championship in the competency “Milling work on CNC machines” and immediately received an invitation for the position of miller at Polesye, a company manufacturing equipment for nuclear power plants.
Anna Volkova, a graduate of the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Technical School, after winning the “Professionals” championship in the competency “Laboratory Chemical Analysis,” took a position as a laboratory technician at the pharmaceutical company “SamaraPharm,” where she is currently responsible for quality control of medicinal products.
Artyom Turkin, a student at the N.V. Lemaev College of Petrochemistry and Oil Refining, took first place in the final of the high technology championship in the innovative competency “Digital Twin of the Patient” and is already working as a leading specialist in the Digital Transformation Department of JSC “SEZ PPT Alabuga”.
All this confirms the great importance of the professions provided by the college. Today, these are not just trades but high-tech fields requiring knowledge of physics, chemistry, computer science, and foreign languages. Graduates operate robotic complexes, 3D printers, complex automated systems, and in a labor market reassessment, specialists with secondary vocational education become the backbone of the real sector of the economy.
Recall that the admissions campaign is currently underway. It is expected that approximately 1.4 million young people will enroll in SPO institutions in the new academic year. For comparison: five to six years ago, intake was maintained at around 900 thousand. At the same time, 880 thousand state-funded places have been approved for the 2026/2027 academic year. In total, the system of secondary vocational education of the Russian Federation includes more than 3.3 thousand professional educational organizations and 416 higher education institutions implementing SPO programs. According to the forecast of the Ministry of Labor, 66% of the replacement labor demand consists of specialists with secondary vocational education.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.