STUDENT LABOR POTENTIAL: AN OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction. The labor potential of modern student youth is presented as a process of developing the knowledge, skills, experience, and motivation necessary for successful employment among young people. The purpose of this article is to identify the factors that contribute to the formation and development of the labor potential of young people, which are directly correlated with the demand in the labor market.

Materials and methods. The results of a survey of young Russians conducted in 2025 by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) on the employment prospects of young people; an analysis of the job and staff search service «Zarplata.ru»; and an author's online survey on «Safety Culture in the Student Environment» conducted in February-March 2025 among students (n=476) studying at universities in the Central and Volga Federal Districts.

Results. A feature of the youth segment of the labor market today is the involvement in the informal sector, the spread of individual entrepreneurship and self-employment (including the use of digital platforms), the accelerated introduction of flexible forms of work, primarily remote employment. The current trends in the labor market that are significant for young people have been identified: an increase in demand for young professionals lacking work experience; the widespread use of remote and mixed (hybrid) forms of work and study; and the transition of telework, outsourcing, and outstaffing from non-standard forms to standard forms. Superprofessional skills (soft skills) are an even more significant factor for an employer when considering a candidate for a vacancy than his special professional skills (hard skills). Such qualities as teamwork, communication skills, learning ability, adaptability, and empathy have a decisive impact on career growth.

Discussion. There has been a change in the motivations of students to combine their studies with work: previously, the main motivation was financial difficulties, but today, this combination is driven by the desire for professional development and building a career track. It is promising to further study the employer's readiness to develop flexible forms of employment and to prioritize the assessment of an employee's potential rather than their experience. In response to the demands of the labor market, it is important for the university community to find ways to integrate the development of non-professional skills into educational programs, fostering students' readiness for continuous learning and self-development.