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RGRU: The Most In-Demand Fields of Study in 2026

2026-04-17 11:35
Many people begin choosing their future profession and course of study even before the admissions campaign starts, but most graduates are still unsure where to apply or what they want to do, according to RGRU. Daria Kudryavtseva, HR Director at Selecty, comments on whether it still makes sense to pursue an IT education.
«Because white-collar jobs are seen as prestigious, it is now much easier to find an office employee than someone for factory work. As a result, many people want office-based careers, and in some sectors there is already a significant oversupply of candidates, which is driving intense competition for jobs».
Many specialists who were in demand two to four years ago may find themselves out of work in 2026 and searching for a job for more than six months. Daria Kudryavtseva says that IT careers have been seen as especially prestigious in recent years.
«This is what happened to economists and lawyers in the early 2000s, when parents encouraged their children to enter those professions. As a result, the labour market became oversaturated with specialists in certain fields, salaries fell, and competition for jobs rose sharply».
By the end of 2025, the Russian IT sector had clearly entered a cooling phase. There were significantly more active résumés than vacancies. The hh.ru index for December 2025 showed an extremely high level of competition: the number of active résumés had doubled compared with December 2024, reaching 20.7. A year before, the figure had stood at 9.7. This shows how quickly the market can shift from strong demand for workers to an oversupply of candidates.

Daria Kudryavtseva, HR Director at Selecty:
«The IT sector has become oversaturated with specialists. Many people caught up in the ‘IT hype’ have completed retraining courses at specialised training centres. These courses continue to promote the idea of a ‘rich’ programmer lifestyle, creating false hopes and unrealistic expectations. This is linked to a sharp shift in the market in favour of employers: more job seekers are entering the market, and many are willing to lower their salary expectations».