Pashinyan says Armenia faces construction labour shortage after Volodin warning

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the country is experiencing a shortage of workers in the construction sector and urged citizens to seek employment at home rather than abroad.

Speaking during an election campaign event in Armenia's Gegharkunik region, Pashinyan recalled that after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Armenian authorities had been concerned that opportunities for labour migration could decline.

According to him, the government responded by increasing investment in capital construction projects in order to create jobs inside the country.

“Today there is a shortage of construction workers in Armenia,” Pashinyan said, adding that many companies that previously operated abroad are now carrying out projects within the country.

His comments came a day after Vyacheslav Volodin warned that Armenian citizens could lose migration-related privileges in Russia if Armenia leaves the Eurasian Economic Union.

Volodin said that in such a scenario, Armenian nationals would no longer benefit from simplified access to the Russian labour market and would need to obtain work permits under the patent system.