Residents of the Volga Federal District identified their main expectations of employers regarding career development by 2026.

      Experts at hh.ru found out what career-development support employees consider most important in 2026. According to the survey results, for 68% of residents of the Volga Federal District (PFO) the key factor is upskilling — both through internal and external training. A further 61% of respondents expect employers to provide professional retraining programs, and 51% consider the priority consideration of internal candidates when filling vacancies important.

      At the same time, participants in the study say such career-development tools are not yet available to everyone. The opportunity for upskilling is currently reported by 33% of respondents, mentoring programs by 23%, and access to professional retraining by only 15%.

      As Marina Dorokhova, head of the "Career and Skills" unit of the platform, notes, employee interest in training continues to grow amid the rapid development of technology. According to her, specialists count on employer support in updating competencies, because this affects not only their professional level but also companies' resilience.

      Besides training, personal-support tools remain significant for employees. Thus, 46% of PFO residents would like companies to offer mentoring and coaching programs, and 38% would like career counseling. These measures, respondents say, help them adapt faster and build clear career trajectories.

      Some respondents also note the importance of additional development formats. Access to corporate and online libraries is considered necessary by 21% of respondents, and the opportunity for cross-functional or cross-regional rotation by 19%. Such tools allow professionals to broaden their skills and increase employees' versatility in a changing labor market.