(MENAFN) The demand for Chinese-speaking workers in Russia has significantly increased over the past year, according to estimates from recruiting agency HeadHunter. This surge in demand is attributed to the intensifying trade relationship between Moscow and Beijing, which has been bolstered by Western sanctions. The agency reports that requests for workers with proficiency in Mandarin rose by 70 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year, and by 45 percent compared to pre-pandemic 2019. The demand for Chinese-speaking workers further strengthened in the first quarter of 2022, rising by 42 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.

Most of the requests for specialists with some command of Chinese are for vacancies in the transport and logistics sector, as well as in sales and manufacturing. HeadHunter also reports that salaries for these positions range from 50,000 to 90,000 rubles (USD650-USD1,170). Meanwhile, another recruiting portal, SuperJob, reported that the number of vacancies requiring applicants with proficiency in Chinese doubled in 2022. According to the portal’s analysts, Chinese is currently the second most in-demand language in the Russian labor market, after English.

The growth in trade between Russia and China is seen as the main driver of the demand for Chinese-speaking workers. Moscow has been redirecting much of its foreign trade from Europe to Asia, with China emerging as a crucial economic partner for Russia in the face of Western sanctions. The demand for specialists who can speak Chinese is expected to continue to rise as the economic relationship between Russia and China deepens. This trend highlights the importance of language skills in today's globalized economy, and the potential opportunities for individuals who possess these skills.

MENAFN02042023000045014146ID1105929070