More than 35 % of IT specialists prefer to work in branches of large companies in their region
The IT sphere in Russia continues to actively develop. So, in 2024, market volume exceeded 3 trillion rubles. Moreover, the information technology sector attracts workers from a variety of professional areas. More than half of today's IT specialists (55 %) do not work in their specialty,-found IT Holding T1 and the HH.ru online recruiting platform During the joint study. These data confirm the flexibility of the IT market and its availability even for those who do not have a specialized education.
Compared to 2024, the number of vacancies in 2025 decreased by 12 %, and the number of resumes increased by 14 %. At the same time, youth demonstrates a more conscious choice of profession: 67 % of surveyed aged 18 to 24 are already working or internships in their specialty, developing experience, and among respondents over 25 this indicator is 40 %.
“The labor market demonstrates flexibility: even without formal education, specialists are successfully integrated into the profession, but systemic training, including corporate programs, still remains a significant factor for a successful career. We see that young people are interested in obtaining higher education in the IT field, so for example, with our support, new undergraduate programs appeared in capital and regional universities. By 2030, we plan to prepare about 900 students, ”said Ekaterina Kolesnikova, Deputy General Director of IT Holding T1 for HR.
The regional picture of employment in IT also shows that not all ITSHNIKS work in the specialty received in educational institutions. The largest share of certified workers in the Krasnodar Territory (48 %) and in Tatarstan (45 %), and in the Samara, Sverdlovsk and Rostov regions it does not exceed a third. However, this does not indicate the lack of examination – many experts combine work with training, mastering the profession in practice. So, 57 % of respondents came to IT through self -education, and 51 % – developed skills already in the process of work, while only 33 % They have a specialized higher education (most often – developers, analysts and cybersecurity specialists).
Corporate internships become an important alternative to traditional education: 40% of respondents are sure that they can replace a diploma. At the same time, 28 % of respondents note that experience is more important, but education also helps in employment.
According to hh.ru, companies from Moscow and St. Petersburg for the first half of 2025 increased the number of invitations to the work of regional personnel (by 5 % and 7 %, respectively). In the top of the subjects where new workers are looking for – Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Tatarstan, Samara, Sverdlovsk and Rostov regions.
The format of remote work in companies from megacities is chosen by 38 %of regional IT specialists, and most often this option is preferred in Tatarstan (48 %), the Samara region (48 %) and the Krasnodar Territory (46 %). At the same time, employees from the regions are in no hurry to change their place of residence for the sake of a career: every fourth interviewed (26 %) received an offer to move to Moscow or St. Petersburg, but only 7 %agreed. The main reasons for the refusal are the lower cost of life in the regions (62 %) and the unwillingness to part from the family (54 %). At the same time, the development of branches of large IT companies in the regions can become a growth driver: 37 % of specialists would consider the transition to such a branch if it opened in their city. The greatest interest in this is manifested in Tatarstan (52 %) and the Samara region (48 %).
“Modern IT specialists got a unique opportunity-to build a career in leading companies without leaving their hometown. Local universities, courses and remote formats open up new opportunities, and companies are increasingly looking for talents outside of traditional IT centers. For example, T1 Actively developing a regional strategy, working with universities and launching projects to support local talents” – added Ekaterina Kolesnikova.
Only 5 % of respondents faced the need to move to a region with a developed IT infrastructure to start a career, while 34 % note a sufficient number of local opportunities-universities, courses and internships. Another 23 % admit that there are such programs in their region, but they are not enough. At the same time, 39 % prefer remote training options, which confirms the growing availability of digital tools for entering the profession without changing their place of residence.
Interestingly, a little more than a third of respondents (38 %) would advise moving to a city with a developed IT infrastructure to start work in the IT field. Most will prefer to stay in their hometown: 26 % would choose an internship in a local company, 17 %-training at a regional university or college, and 16 %-online courses. More and more IT specialists are convinced that the success in IT is achievable and in their native region with the competent use of available resources.
