ABSTRACT
This article presents the effect of COVID-19 on the labor market in the forestry industry of Russia. The demand dynamics of the labor market 2 years before COVID-19 was decreasing, which then deteriorated sharply as the pandemic came. Because of this, the regional structure of the labor market and the level of competition for decreasing vacancies but increasing job applications were affected as well. The salary in the industry rose, although the trend is primarily associated with decreasing demand for line personnel and inherently low level of income for specialists. As for the labor demand in specialists, among the five most demanded in the industry include managers and heads of production, engineers, technologists, designers, and foremen, with vacancies also offered to joiners and carpenters, mechanics. locksmiths, assemblers, fitters, and CNC machine operators. Lastly, the general portraits of job candidates were presented. Majority of candidates are men, with specialists aged 26-35 and 36-45 prevailing, and those under 22 show the least interest in the industry. Approximately 60% of candidates graduated from university, 20% from colleges, and 13% with secondary education, with the majority having over 6 years of work experience. Salary expectations of candidates were distributed as follows: 40,000-60,000 rubles - 28%, 30,000-40,000 rubles - 20%, 60,000-80,000 rubles - 17%.