As part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2024, a panel discussion was held on June 8, 2024, focused on the future of youth in public and municipal service, as well as in government relations (GR). “Future Day” served as a significant platform for dialogue on the opportunities and challenges faced by young professionals in these sectors. This event was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time that public service and GR were addressed jointly at such a high-profile level. 

The discussion featured leading experts in youth policy and management, including Arthur Gafarov, Director of the autonomous non-profit organization (ANO) «Institute for the Development of Entrepreneurship and Economy»; Alexey Agafonov, First deputy general of the ANO “Russia – the Country of Opportunities”; Alexander Vaino, the head of the Center for Youth Initiatives of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI); Egor Litvinenko, Advisor to the Head of the; Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Alexey Davletshin, Minister of Youth Policy of the Tula Region; Andrey Samotoin, Executive Director of the All-Russian Public Movement of Mentors for Children and Youth; Kirill Pakhotin, Chairman of the Association of Youth Governments of the Russian Federation; Eduard Voytenko, CEO of Baikal Communications Group and Stanislav Bogdanov, Managing Director for Government Relations at Samolet Group. The forum was moderated by Evgeny Minchenko, the President of the Communication Group Minchenko Consulting and Director of the Center for Political Elite Studies at the Institute for International Studies, MGIMO.

The issue of public service was examined through the perspective of young people who face numerous challenges on their path to career success in this sector. Among the main factors hindering the influx of young talent are low salaries, unclear career growth prospects, bureaucracy, and outdated procedures. Stanislav Bogdanov emphasized that salaries in public service often do not meet the expectations of young people, especially when they see more attractive offers in the private sector. Alexander Vaino pointed out that career advancement in public service often appears long and uncertain to young professionals, which diminishes their motivation.

Evgeny Minchenko highlighted the severe shortage of personnel across various sectors of the country’s economy. The industrial sector lacks 54.7% of the necessary specialists, the agricultural sector faces a 47.2% shortfall, and the construction sector has a 38.3% deficit, even with significant migrant influx. According to the Ministry of Finance, in 2023, one in ten positions in government structures remained unfilled, accounting for 10% of the total workforce. Additionally, about 30% of government agencies report a shortage of young specialists.

Eduard Voytenko discussed the increasing number of master’s programs and professional development courses in the field of government relations (GR) and emphasized the importance of high-quality education in this area. He highlighted that educational programs should combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience. He also pointed out that involving corporate sector specialists can significantly enhance the quality of these educational programs and better prepare young people for effective interaction with government bodies.

The forum also addressed the profile of the modern young manager. Alexander Vaino highlighted motivation as a crucial factor for youth, stating that public service is primarily about the opportunity to serve society. He noted that this requires not only professional skills but also a high level of personal motivation. Egor Litvinenko underscored the importance of motivating youth for public service, noting that young people want to see the significance of their work and know that they can make a real contribution to the country’s development.

The forum became a platform for sharing inspiring success stories of young leaders. Kirill Pakhotin spoke about programs that help young people understand the structure of public service and implement their projects. He shared success stories, such as that of Andrey Yarenkov, who started his career in the youth government and, over eight years, rose to the position of Minister of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Voronezh Region.

Stanislav Bogdanov presented the results of a survey conducted among young civil servants. The survey revealed that over 60% of young professionals are drawn to public service by the opportunity to influence social and economic processes in the country. About 55% see it as a way to pursue their idealistic goals and improve existing systems. Additionally, 40% of respondents view public service as a unique platform for gaining experience and skills that are not available in other sectors. However, despite their high levels of motivation, young people face challenges such as low salaries, travel restrictions, and a lack of flexibility in their work, which complicates efforts to attract and retain new talent.

Public service needs to become more appealing to youth by providing opportunities for personal and professional growth and by ensuring conditions for the realization of their ideas and initiatives. The “Future Day” forum demonstrated that modernizing and adapting public service to contemporary realities and the expectations of young specialists will be key to addressing the personnel shortage and ensuring the country’s sustainable development.

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