Tikhonova N.E., Karavay A.V., Latova N.V. Human Capital of Russian Blue Collars: State, Changes over Time, Factors. Russian Foundation for Basic Research Journal, 2019, Issue 4 (97), pp. 39-47.

Текст статьи на сайте ResearchGate URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338759858_Human_Capital_of_Russian_Blue_Collars_State_Changes_over_Time_Factors (дата обращения 13.03.2020)

Abstract

The common indicators of human capital of Russian blue collars are typical for the post-Soviet countries, but are highly dispersed by age groups, industries, and types of settlement. Still, these indicators are very low for 75% of Russian blue collars, while the rest have quite high-quality human capital and constitute a talent pool for a tech breakthrough in the national economy. The core drawbacks in the human capital of Russian blue collars from both groups are the lack of professional education in the chosen area and poor inclusion in the system of further learning. These disadvantages are especially evident for blue collars in developed countries. The quality of human capital of Russian blue collars had gradually improved until the second half of the 2000s. However later, workers were less and less likely to choose a job corresponding to their major, and less often to obtain it. On the other hand, Russians with professional education were less likely to choose blue- collar jobs. The barriers to better quality of human capital were no goals among workers, especially those with blue-collar family traditions, for upskilling, as well as a limited number of jobs promising high qualifications. The poor quality of human capital among most blue collars and their unwillingness to improve their skills are, in these conditions, a rational response to the situation in hand. The common indicators of human capital of Russian blue collars are typical for the post-Sovietcountries, but are highly dispersed by age groups, industries, and types of settlement.Still, these indicators are very low for 75% of Russian blue collars, while the rest have quitehigh-quality human capital and constitute a talent pool for a tech breakthrough in the nationaleconomy. The core drawbacks in the human capital of Russian blue collars from bothgroups are the lack of professional education in the chosen area and poor inclusion in thesystem of further learning. These disadvantages are especially evident for blue collars in developedcountries.The quality of human capital of Russian blue collars had gradually improved until the secondhalf of the 2000s. However later, workers were less and less likely to choose a job correspondingto their major, and less often to obtain it. On the other hand, Russians with professionaleducation were less likely to choose blue- collar jobs. The barriers to better quality of humancapital were no goals among workers, especially those with blue-collar family traditions, for upskilling,as well as a limited number of jobs promising high qualifications. The poor quality of humancapital among most blue collars and their unwillingness to improve their skills are, in theseconditions, a rational response to the situation in hand.