Non-standard employment in the Russian Federation: challenges and prospects for youth career development

This article investigates the impact of non-standard (atypical) employment on the career trajectories of young people in the Russian Federation amid ongoing transformations in the labour market. The analysis focuses on the prevalence of key forms of atypical employment, including freelancing, self-employment, temporary work, informal jobs, and platform-based labour. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining theoretical analysis with empirical data drawn from nationwide sociological surveys: Comprehensive monitoring of living conditions of the population, Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics, and ot hers. The findings indicate that youth are among the most engaged in atypical employment – particularly freelancing – which has become relatively widespread across the country. At the same time, non-standard employment has an ambivalent effect on career strategies of young people: while it offers new opportunities for professional mobility and self-realisation, it also increases instability and social vulnerability. The study shows that Russian youth potentially combine traditional and emerging career models. Some deliberately pursue flexible strategies oriented toward autonomy and adaptability, while others prefer conventional employment paths that emphasise stability and predictability. These insights may inform policy efforts aimed at supporting youth adaptation to evolving labour market conditions and strengthening employment regulation frameworks.