Since the war with Ukraine, Russia is grappling with a major labour shortage in its industrial hubs and plans to bring in up to one million foreign workers, including Indians. The shortfall could widen to 3.1 million workers by 2030, says the Russian Ministry of Labour. To address the gap, the ministry wants to increase the quota for qualified foreign workers in 2025 by 1.5 times. Russian companies in the machinery and electronics sectors are interested in hiring skilled Indian professionals to address the labour shortage. India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, told Russian state news agency TASS that the demand for Indian workers was expanding beyond traditional sectors.
“At a broader level, there is manpower requirement in Russia, and India has a skilled manpower. So at present, within the framework of Russian regulations, laws and quotas, the companies are hiring Indians,” Kumar said. He pointed out that many Indians working in Russia so far have been employed in construction and textiles, but interest in hiring them for machinery and electronics roles has been steadily rising.
“As far as I know, by the end of the year, 1 million specialists from India will come to Russia, including to the Sverdlovsk region. A new Consulate General is opening in Yekaterinburg, which will deal with these issues,” Andrey Besedin, head of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has said. “Some Russian workers are deployed in the military operation in Ukraine, and many young Russians do not go to factories,” he added. The Sverdlovsk region, in the Ural Mountains, is regarded as the backbone of Russian heavy industry and its military-industrial complex.
Demographics of Russia
The population of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) in 1950 was around 102.8 million. Russia has an estimated population of 146.0 million as of January 2025, down from 147.2 million recorded in the 2021 census. The total area of Russia is 17.1 million sq. km. It has a population density of 8.5 inhabitants per square kilometre. Overall life expectancy is 73 years. The fertility rate is 1.41 children per woman as of 2024, below the replacement rate of 2.1. Russia has one of the oldest populations in the world, with a median age of 41.9 years. There is a natural population decline, classifiable as a demographic crisis. According to the United Nations, Russia’s immigrant population is the world’s third largest, numbering over 11.6 million, mostly from post-Soviet states. Russia needs labour to till land, skilled industrial workers, and middle-level managers.
Indians in Russia
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are approximately 62,825 Indians in Russia. The Indian diaspora is composed primarily of students (medical and technical degrees), businessmen, and a growing pool of labourers filling industrial labour shortages. The diaspora is concentrated in major cities like Moscow and is active in trade, IT, and manufacturing. Many Indian businessmen operate trading companies, importing tea, coffee, spices, pharmaceuticals, and garments from India.
Russia is witnessing a sharp rise in Indian workers, with employment visa applications increasing rapidly and projections of over 40,000 Indian nationals arriving in 2025 to fill jobs in construction, textiles, agriculture, manufacturing, and warehousing. The Indian community in Russia, especially in Moscow, has faced challenges in obtaining permission to build Hindu temples and lacks adequate cultural and religious infrastructure.
Indians in West Asia
There is an over 9 million strong Indian diaspora in West Asia, with major populations in the UAE (over 3.5 million) and Saudi Arabia (around 2.5 million). They work across skilled and unskilled sectors. Skilled professionals include nurses and technicians, while others work in blue-collar jobs. India seeks to expand economic ties and strategic cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, higher education, defence, space exploration, AI, and cybersecurity.
The diaspora strengthens India’s soft power, reflected in the Bollywood presence and the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi. This population contributes billions of dollars in remittances, boosting foreign exchange reserves and household incomes in India. Estimates suggest over $135 billion in remittances, with a significant share from GCC countries.
West Asia remains a politically volatile region, marked by geopolitical tensions and proxy warfare, posing risks to Indian workers. Some Gulf states have introduced “Arabization” or “indigenization” policies, impacting expatriate labour, alongside concerns over living conditions and exploitation.
Indians in USA
There are over 5.2 million Indian Americans in the USA, making them the second-largest Asian ethnic group, representing 21% of the Asian population. This group exhibits high educational attainment and median household incomes far above the national average, with over $160,000 median income. Indian Americans contribute significantly to the US tax base and hold substantial wealth in Fortune 500 companies.
Nearly two-thirds are immigrants, though US-born Indians are increasing. The population has grown by 174% since 2000. Major concentrations exist in California, Texas, New Jersey, and New York. The community is diverse, rooted in multiple regions of India, and plays major roles in politics, academia, and corporate leadership.
Prominent leaders include Sundar Pichai (Alphabet/Google), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Arvind Krishna (IBM), Leena Nair (Chanel), Ajay Banga (World Bank President), Rajeev Suri (Nokia), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), Neal Mohan (YouTube), and Raj Subramaniam (FedEx).
However, Trump-era US visa rules have adversely affected Indian travellers due to longer waiting periods and restricted overseas interviews.
Indians in UK
There are over 1.8 million people of Indian ethnicity in the UK, forming the largest ethnic minority group. British Indians—mainly of Punjabi, Gujarati, and Bengali origin—are prominent in healthcare, technology, engineering, and politics, with Rishi Sunak serving as Prime Minister. Key population centres include Harrow, Brent, Ealing, Leicester, and Birmingham.
Indians in Canada
As per the 2021 census, 1.86 million Indian Canadians form the largest non-European ethnic group and the fastest-growing national origin in Canada. Concentrations are highest in Ontario and British Columbia, with expansion into Alberta and Quebec. Languages include Punjabi, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, and Bengali. Religious composition includes Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, and Muslims.
India became the top source country of immigration to Canada by 2017 and the largest contributor of international students. In the 2025 Canadian federal election, 22 Indian-origin MPs were elected. Cabinet leaders include Anita Anand and Maninder Sidhu in the Mark Carney administration.
Despite this, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows nearly 80% of Indian student visa applications were rejected in 2025.
Indians in Australia
At the 2021 census, 976,000 Indian Australians represented 3.8% of Australia’s population, concentrated in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Predominantly Hindu, with large Sikh and Christian populations, Indians form the youngest and fastest-growing migrant community.
India has been the largest source of permanent migrants to Australia since 2016 and the largest source of skilled migrants in the 21st century. Over 54.6% of Indians in Australia hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Japan Seeks To Hire Indians
With over 29% of its population above 65, Japan faces a severe demographic and labour crisis. Annual shortages of IT, AI, and data science professionals exceed 2.5 lakh, with a projected 11 million workforce decline by 2040.
Japan is actively recruiting Indians via the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, spanning 14 sectors. Compared to the USA, UK, or Germany, Japan offers faster and more predictable immigration pathways. The goal is to attract 50,000 skilled Indians over five years.
Japan’s emphasis on long-term employment, job stability, reskilling, and team-centric culture aligns well with Indian professionals. Cultural compatibility, workplace security, and lower societal risk make Japan an emerging top overseas destination for Indians.
Israel Needs Indian Work Force
Following the October 2023 conflict, Israel faces acute labour shortages in construction, after Palestinian workers were barred. Under a bilateral agreement, thousands of Indian construction workers and caregivers have been recruited.
A formal India–Israel agreement signed in November 2023 supports temporary employment, offering three-times higher wages. Recruitment is coordinated via the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under a G2G framework, reducing exploitation risks.
Way Ahead
A FICCI–KPMG study, “Global Mobility of Indian Workforce”, estimates a global talent shortage of 85.2 million by 2030, rising to 250 million in 25 years. Major gaps exist in Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA.
The global labour market is not future-ready. India already sends 700,000 workers abroad annually across technology, healthcare, transportation, and hospitality. The opportunity is structural, strategic, and global. Get going India.
Note: The article was originally written by the Author for The First Post on, October 4th, 2025, it has since been updated.
Header Picture Credit: Author
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Air Power Asia 