18:28 21.08.2026
Doctors, welders, aircraft technicians: Who is the Arctic looking for?
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
The Arctic: The Ice Has Broken youth forum is underway in Naryan-Mar, the capital of the Nenets Autonomous Area, bringing together over 300 participants from 62 Russian regions. One of the key discussions focused on the professions that will be in demand in the Arctic in the coming years.
By 2035, the Arctic will need an additional 200,000 professionals across a wide range of fields, according to an estimate by Denis Gusev, a senator representing the Nenets Autonomous Area.
“When we talk about attracting professionals, this is one of the key issues involved in implementing major projects. This also concerns security in the Arctic, given the size of the territory and the length of its coastline. We need the personnel and resources to protect this territory, so that people can live here and for it to remain secure,” he stressed.
The senator also noted that tourism and the creative industries are developing rapidly in the Nenets Autonomous Area, while there is growing demand for historians, local history experts and digital product specialists.
State Duma Deputy Mikhail Kislyakov emphasized the need to encourage young people who grew up in the Arctic to return to the region after graduation. He said particular attention should be paid to raising the prestige of teaching as a profession.
“It is teachers who educate our children and provide them with a foundation for the future. But salary alone cannot solve this issue,” he said.
Kislyakov stressed that affordable housing is currently a key concern for young people. The lawmaker proposed providing young working people with apartments under social rental agreements rather than relying on mortgage loans. This proposal was met with applause from the audience.
The aviation sector also faces a significant shortage of personnel, said Alexander Korol, Deputy Speakerof the Arkhangelsk Regional Parliament and First Deputy General Director of Naryan-Mar United Air Squadron.
“There is a huge number of professions and specialties that theaviation industry needs. We need people in skilled trades, welders, for example. We have a shortage of welders,” he said.
According to Korol, the Arctic welcomes everyone, but especially people who can keep a cool head, make unconventional decisions and work as part of a team.
“The Arctic is vast. There is plenty of room here to be the first and to be the best. And the conditions to make that happen are being created here,” he said.
Oil companies are also actively seeking talented young people, recruiting specialists directly after they graduate from universities, said Vadim Kozlov, CEO of LUKOIL-Severneftegaz. Priority is given to graduates with specialized qualifications, including oil and gas field development, geology, oil production technologies and power engineering.
“About 1,630 people currently work at the company, and only 30 percent of them live in the city; the rest work on a rotational basis,”Kozlov said. He added that the company is taking steps to reduce its reliance on rotational workers and attract more employees to live in the region permanently.
The forum also featured an interactive job fair, Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area, organized in the format of a “city of professions.” The venue was divided into themed districts where participants could not only learn about available jobs but also try out different professions through hands-on activities and workshops.
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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На площадках ярмарки вакансий "Найди своё в НАО" в Нарьян-Маре
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
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At the Find Your Path in the Nenets Autonomous Area job fair in Naryan-Mar
© Russian Arctic and Far East Development
For example, officers from the Russian National Guard introduced visitors to the specifics of law enforcement work in the Arctic and highlighted current openings for military doctors, police drivers and specialists in technical security systems.
At the Nenets Regional Hospital booth, visitors could practice first aid skills on a dummy. Those who already had the necessary qualifications and experience were invited to submit their CVs: the hospital is looking for endoscopists, endocrinologists, general practitioners, ultrasound specialists and nurses, including operating-room nurses.
Representatives of the Naryan-Mar United Air Squadron did not offer interactive activities for visitors, but actively encouraged young specialists to join the company, particularly aircraft technicians. The company offers competitive salaries and additional training at its own expense.
