Improving the Skills of Labor Migrants from Central Asia in Russia: A Gender Perspective

This study is based on data from four surveys conducted in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2023, covering a total of 3,503 labour migrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan living and working in Russia. It analyses data on migrants’ skills development and identifies differences according to their level of education, sector of employment in Russia, and gender. Labour migrants from Central Asia who are employed in Russia generally favour self-directed learning on the job or participation in vocational training courses. Opportunities for migrants from Central Asian countries to develop their professional skills in the Russian Federation are constrained by two internal barriers: a lack of awareness of the available opportunities for retraining and professional development, and a sceptical perception of their own capabilities and resources. A consistent trend towards self-directed learning was identified among migrants, with women from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan demonstrating greater motivation for professional development than women from Uzbekistan. There is a significant unmet demand for formal education (universities, colleges and training courses) among young migrants from Central Asia, indicating the need to create more accessible retraining and skills-development programmes for this group.