Fewer vacancies, more candidates: what is happening in the labor market?

The Russian labor market is showing a paradoxical situation: despite years of talk about personnel shortages, statistics show a 13% decrease in vacancies and a 22% increase in resumes compared to last year. The hh index, which reflects competition among job seekers, has reached 8.7. This creates a contradictory picture where it is becoming harder for candidates to find work due to increased competition, while employers continue to claim a shortage of specialists. The author analyzes why the traditional concept of 'personnel shortage' is no longer adequately describing current market realities. The article examines the reasons for this imbalance and suggests rethinking the current situation to understand whether this gap is real or caused by structural changes in the economy and company requirements for applicants.