The problem of human resources in the labor market and the increasing competition for specialists
Between 2023 and 2025, Russia's total labor shortage reached 2.1 million people, with critical values of the author's Deficit Concentration Index recorded in agriculture and IT, while regional tension varied from 1.5 in Chukotka to 22.7 in Chechnya. The study found that wage increases are ineffective due to 37% staff turnover, and also revealed institutional barriers and intra-industry heterogeneity, including the "junior paradox" in the IT sector. Based on statistical analysis of data from Rosstat, the Ministry of Labour, and hh. ru/SuperJob platforms, a four-stage process model of human capital management is proposed, differentiating measures for the state, business, and education. The results quantitatively substantiate the persistent heterogeneous nature of the labour shortage, requiring a shift from fragmented measures to strategic planning. The practical significance of the work lies in the applicability of the developed indicators and recommendations for shaping HR strategies and state employment policy.