The city of Moscow has openly acknowledged that it cannot abandon the recruitment of labor migrants in the near future. This statement was made by Sergey Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, during a session of the Moscow City Duma. According to him, the current labor shortage in the city is estimated at approximately 500,000 workers, which necessitates a pragmatic approach to migration policies.
According to the mayor, theoretically, Moscow could exist without migrants. However, in practice, the demographic situation and economic structure do not permit this. "Economics and demography, unfortunately, dictate their own rules," Sobyanin said during his address.
The mayor believes that the current demographic decline, imbalances in the labor market, and a lack of local specialists in certain sectors require a tested, balanced, and cautious approach to migration policies. Additionally, he noted that the shortage of workers would not diminish, even if the economic growth rate slowed down, but rather, it would deepen further.
Sobyanin emphasized that, despite the existing challenges, labor migrants significantly contribute to the capital's economic development. According to estimates, they account for approximately 5–6 percent of Moscow's gross regional product. A sharp reduction in the number of migrants could lead to rising inflation and exacerbate the shortage of workers in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and even the defense sector.
In conclusion, the Mayor of Moscow stressed that the city administration intends to establish consistent and systematic regulations in the field of migration while avoiding populist decisions. He stated that maintaining interethnic and interfaith harmony, as well as ensuring stability in society, remains a priority for the capital.
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