Regional, sectoral and socio-demographic differentiation in the structure of labor supply on the Russian employment platform Profi
Research Article
Acknowledgments
This article was written with support from the Russian Science Foundation grant no. 23-18-00775 “Informal Employment in the Regions of Russia: Social Risks and Opportunities”
How to Cite
Turakayev M.S., Battalova A.I. (2025) Regional, sectoral and socio-demographic differentiation in the structure of labor supply on the Russian employment platform Profi. Zhurnal sotsiologii i sotsialnoy antropologii (The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology), 28(3): 30-56 (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.31119/jssa.2025.28.3.2 EDN: IGTLSP
Abstract
This article examines the profiles of platform workers registered on Profi (profi.ru), one of the most popular online services for job search and labor supply in Russia. Platform-based labor almost always takes informal and non-standard forms. The aim of the study is to identify the regional, sectoral, and socio-demographic structure of labor supply on the Russian employment platform Profi. The dataset was obtained through web crawling/downloading from the Profi website. In total, 965,726 unique platform profiles were collected, of which 935,312 belong to users from Russia. The main parameters employed in the analysis include socio-demographic and other personal data of workers, as well as the service categories provided on Profi. Since some parameters could not be automatically extracted from the website, additional enrichment was carried out for such variables as age and total work experience. The analysis of the service meta-categories, as well as clustered service categories obtained via probabilistic latent semantic analysis of keywords from user profile descriptions, revealed that the most common industries (service domains) are repair services, beauty-related services, and tutoring, while the least common are highly specialized fields such as psychology, transportation, fitness, legal services, and others. Furthermore, the study identified the socio-demographic structure of service categories, along with their regional differentiation. The services offered on Profi are most widespread in relatively socio-economically developed regions and cities of Russia, which may be associated with a higher prevalence of practices involving the use of digital platforms for job search and labor supply.
Keywords:
informal employment, self-employment, freelancing, big data, platform employment, “Profi”, profi.ru
References
Babkina T.S., Goiko V.L., Mundrievskaya Yu.O., Sukhareva M.A., Bogdanov A.A., Myagkov M.G. (2018) The Trajectory of Graduates of Russian Universities based on Social Media Data. In: Vasilyeva S.N., Tsvirkuna A.D. (eds.) Managing the Development of Large-Scale Systems (MLSD'2018): Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference. In 2 vols, Moscow, October 1–3, 2018. Vol. 2. Moscow: Institut problem upravleniya imeni V.A. Trapeznikova RAN: 489–491 (in Russian).
Baimurzina G.R., Chernykh E.A. (2024) Features of Platform Employment in Russia: what do the Data of Digital Employee Profiles say. Ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny: fakty, tendentsii, prognoz [Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast], 17(2): 202–219. https://doi.org/10.15838/esc.2024.2.92.11 (in Russian).
Bobkov V.N., Chernykh E.A. (2020) Platform Employment: Scale and Signs of Instability. Mir novoy ekonomiki [The World of the New Economy], 14(2): 6–15. https://doi.org/10.26794/2220-6469-2020-14-2-6-15 (in Russian).
Bychkov D.G., Grishina E.E., Feoktistova O.A., Loktyukhina N.V. (2024) Profiles of Self-Employment and Platform Employment in Russia. Uroven' zhizni naseleniya regionov Rossii [Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia], 20(3): 339–355. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2024_20_3_2_339_355 (in Russian).
Gimpelson V.E., Kapelyushnikov R.I. (2013) Is it Normal to be Informal? Ekonomicheskiy zhurnal VSHE [Higher School of Economics Economic Journal], 17(1): 3–43 (in Russian).
Gokhberg L.M., Glazkov B.M., Rudnik P.B., Abdrakhmanova G.I. (eds.) (2023) Platform Economy in Russia: Development Potential: Analytical Report. Moscow: ISIEZ VSHE [https://issek.hse.ru/mirror/pubs/share/832628936.pdf] (date of access: 09.10.2024) (in Russian).
Kanarsh G.Yu. (2022a) Platform Capitalism, Exploitation, and Inequality. Part I. Znaniye. Ponimaniye. Umeniye [Knowledge. Understanding. Skill], 1: 86–103. https://doi.org/10.17805/zpu.2022.1.7 (in Russian).
Kanarsh G.Yu. (2022b) Platform Capitalism, Exploitation, and Inequality. Part II. Znaniye. Ponimaniye. Umeniye [Knowledge. Understanding. Skill], 2: 115–129. https://doi.org/10.17805/zpu.2022.2.8 (in Russian).
Makeev P.A. (2019) Tutoring in Russia: Description of the Phenomenon based on Online Platforms. Zhurnal institutsional'nykh issledovaniy [Journal of Institutional Studies], 11(4): 106–120. https://doi.org/10.17835/2076–6297.2019.11.4.106-120 (in Russian).
Matsuta V.V, Mundrievskaya Yu.O, Serbina G.N, Mishchenko E.S (2020) Analysis of Text content of Deviant Online Communities (on the Example of Schoolshooting Communities). Gumanitarnyy nauchnyy vestnik [Humanitarian Scientific Bulletin], 3: 90–101. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3763848 (in Russian).
Mishchenko E.S, Kashpur V.V, Mundrievskaya Yu.O (2022) The Structure of Russian Online Charity based on Big Data Analysis (Messages and User Profiles of the Social Network “Vkontakte”). In: Modern Sociological Science: Key Trends and Prospects for Studying Society: Collection of Scientific Papers of the V International Conference, Kazan, May 20–21, 2022. Kazan: Izdatel'stvo Kazanskogo universiteta: 73–85 (in Russian).
Pleshkevich I.B. (2022) Methodology for Identifying Communities of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East in Social Networks. In: Arctic Research: from Extensive Development to Comprehensive Development: Proceedings of the III International Youth Scientific and Practical Conference, Arkhangelsk, April 26–28, 2022. Arkhangelsk: Severnyy (Arkticheskiy) federal'nyy universitet imeni M.V. Lomonosova: 126–130 (in Russian).
Plotnikov A.V., Bragina D.S. (2021) Remote Work in a Pandemic and the Impact of Self-Employment on the Shadow Economy. Moskovskiy ekonomicheskiy zhurnal [Moscow Economic Journal], 5: https://doi.org/10.24411/2413-046X-2021-10258 (in Russian).
Sinyavskaya O.V., Biryukova S.S., Aptekar A.P., Gorvat E.S., Grishchenko N.B., Gudkova T.B., Kareva D.E. (2021) Platform Employment: Definition and Regulation. Moscow: NIU VSHE [https://ncmu.hse.ru/data/2021/05/26/1438190156/Доклад_Платформенная_занятость_002.pdf] (accessed: 09.10.2024) (in Russian).
Srnicek N. (2019) Platform Capitalism (Excerpts). Ekonomicheskaya sotsiologiya [Journal of Economic Sociology], 20(1): 72–82 (in Russian).
Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V. (2019) The Flexible Employment Trap: How Non-Standard Work Schedules Affect Freelancers' Work-Life Balance. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny [Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes], 3: 86–102. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2019.3.06 (in Russian).
Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V. (2022) Informal Freelance Economy in Russia: A Sociological Perspective. In: Labor Law: National and International Dimensions. Moscow: Norma Publ. (in Russian).
Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V., Lukina A.A., Melianova E.G., Tyulyupo A.V. (2019) Social Factors in Choosing Contractors on the Remote Job Exchange: A Study of Competitions Using Big Data. Ekonomicheskaya sotsiologiya [Economic Sociology], 20(3): 25–65. https://doi.org/10.17323/1726-3247-2019-3-25-65 (in Russian).
Tomin L.V. (2019) Socio-economic Conflicts within the Framework of Platform Capitalism. Konfliktologiya [Konfliktologia], 14(3): 33–43. https://doi.org/10.31312/2310-6085-2019-14-3-33-43 (in Russian).
Tonkikh N.V. (2021) Remote Employment and Parenthood: Women's Opinions. Narodonaseleniye [Population], 24(3): 92–104. https://doi.org/10.19181/population.2021.24.3.8 (in Russian).
Chernykh E.A. (2021) Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Quality of Employment of Platform Workers in Russia and the World. Ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny: fakty, tendentsii, prognoz [Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast], 14(2): 172–187. https://doi.org/10.15838/esc.2021.2.74.11 (in Russian).
Chernyshev K.A., Mityagina E.V., Chernysheva N.V., Petrov E.Yu. (2023) The Scale and Directions of Educational Migration of Tuvan Youth. Novyye issledovaniya Tuvy [The New Research of Tuva], 2: 70–83. https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2023.2.5 (in Russian).
Chudinov S.I., Serbina G.N., Mundrievskaya Yu.O. (2021) Network Organization of School Shooters in the Social Network “VKontakte” on the Example of the Fan Community of the “Kerch Shooter”. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny [Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes], 4: 363–383. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2021.4.1740 (in Russian).
Shevchuk A.V., Krasilnikova A.V. (2019) The Impact of Non-Standard Working Hours on Work-Life Balance (Based on the European Social Survey in Russia). Zhurnal issledovaniy sotsial'noy politiki [The Journal of Social Policy Studies], 17(2): 223–236. https://doi.org/10.17323/727-0634-2019-17-2-223-236 (in Russian).
Shchekotin E.V., Goiko V.L., Basina P.A., Bakulin V.V. (2022) Using Machine Learning to Study the Quality of Life of the Population: Methodological Aspects. Tsifrovaya sotsiologiya [Digital Sociology], 5(1): 87–97. https://doi.org/10.26425/2658-347X-2022-5-1-87-97 (in Russian).
Shchekotin E.V., Dunaeva D.O., Basina P.A., Vakhrameev P.S. (2023) Digital Traces in Ecology: an Empirical Study. Virtual'naya kommunikatsiya i sotsial'nyye seti [Virtual Communication and Social Networks], 2(4): 255–263. https://doi.org/10.21603/2782-4799-2023-2-4-255-263 (in Russian).
Iskra-Golec I., Barnes-Farrell J., Bohle P. (2016) Social and family issues in shift work and non standard working hours. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42286-2.
Kässi O., Lehdonvirta V. (2018) Online labour index: Measuring the online gig economy for policy and research. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 137: 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.07.056.
Shevchuk A., Strebkov D., Tyulyupo A. (2021) Always on across time zones: Invisible schedules in the online gig economy. New Technology, Work and Employment, 36(1): 94–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12191.
Baimurzina G.R., Chernykh E.A. (2024) Features of Platform Employment in Russia: what do the Data of Digital Employee Profiles say. Ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny: fakty, tendentsii, prognoz [Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast], 17(2): 202–219. https://doi.org/10.15838/esc.2024.2.92.11 (in Russian).
Bobkov V.N., Chernykh E.A. (2020) Platform Employment: Scale and Signs of Instability. Mir novoy ekonomiki [The World of the New Economy], 14(2): 6–15. https://doi.org/10.26794/2220-6469-2020-14-2-6-15 (in Russian).
Bychkov D.G., Grishina E.E., Feoktistova O.A., Loktyukhina N.V. (2024) Profiles of Self-Employment and Platform Employment in Russia. Uroven' zhizni naseleniya regionov Rossii [Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia], 20(3): 339–355. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2024_20_3_2_339_355 (in Russian).
Gimpelson V.E., Kapelyushnikov R.I. (2013) Is it Normal to be Informal? Ekonomicheskiy zhurnal VSHE [Higher School of Economics Economic Journal], 17(1): 3–43 (in Russian).
Gokhberg L.M., Glazkov B.M., Rudnik P.B., Abdrakhmanova G.I. (eds.) (2023) Platform Economy in Russia: Development Potential: Analytical Report. Moscow: ISIEZ VSHE [https://issek.hse.ru/mirror/pubs/share/832628936.pdf] (date of access: 09.10.2024) (in Russian).
Kanarsh G.Yu. (2022a) Platform Capitalism, Exploitation, and Inequality. Part I. Znaniye. Ponimaniye. Umeniye [Knowledge. Understanding. Skill], 1: 86–103. https://doi.org/10.17805/zpu.2022.1.7 (in Russian).
Kanarsh G.Yu. (2022b) Platform Capitalism, Exploitation, and Inequality. Part II. Znaniye. Ponimaniye. Umeniye [Knowledge. Understanding. Skill], 2: 115–129. https://doi.org/10.17805/zpu.2022.2.8 (in Russian).
Makeev P.A. (2019) Tutoring in Russia: Description of the Phenomenon based on Online Platforms. Zhurnal institutsional'nykh issledovaniy [Journal of Institutional Studies], 11(4): 106–120. https://doi.org/10.17835/2076–6297.2019.11.4.106-120 (in Russian).
Matsuta V.V, Mundrievskaya Yu.O, Serbina G.N, Mishchenko E.S (2020) Analysis of Text content of Deviant Online Communities (on the Example of Schoolshooting Communities). Gumanitarnyy nauchnyy vestnik [Humanitarian Scientific Bulletin], 3: 90–101. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3763848 (in Russian).
Mishchenko E.S, Kashpur V.V, Mundrievskaya Yu.O (2022) The Structure of Russian Online Charity based on Big Data Analysis (Messages and User Profiles of the Social Network “Vkontakte”). In: Modern Sociological Science: Key Trends and Prospects for Studying Society: Collection of Scientific Papers of the V International Conference, Kazan, May 20–21, 2022. Kazan: Izdatel'stvo Kazanskogo universiteta: 73–85 (in Russian).
Pleshkevich I.B. (2022) Methodology for Identifying Communities of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East in Social Networks. In: Arctic Research: from Extensive Development to Comprehensive Development: Proceedings of the III International Youth Scientific and Practical Conference, Arkhangelsk, April 26–28, 2022. Arkhangelsk: Severnyy (Arkticheskiy) federal'nyy universitet imeni M.V. Lomonosova: 126–130 (in Russian).
Plotnikov A.V., Bragina D.S. (2021) Remote Work in a Pandemic and the Impact of Self-Employment on the Shadow Economy. Moskovskiy ekonomicheskiy zhurnal [Moscow Economic Journal], 5: https://doi.org/10.24411/2413-046X-2021-10258 (in Russian).
Sinyavskaya O.V., Biryukova S.S., Aptekar A.P., Gorvat E.S., Grishchenko N.B., Gudkova T.B., Kareva D.E. (2021) Platform Employment: Definition and Regulation. Moscow: NIU VSHE [https://ncmu.hse.ru/data/2021/05/26/1438190156/Доклад_Платформенная_занятость_002.pdf] (accessed: 09.10.2024) (in Russian).
Srnicek N. (2019) Platform Capitalism (Excerpts). Ekonomicheskaya sotsiologiya [Journal of Economic Sociology], 20(1): 72–82 (in Russian).
Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V. (2019) The Flexible Employment Trap: How Non-Standard Work Schedules Affect Freelancers' Work-Life Balance. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny [Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes], 3: 86–102. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2019.3.06 (in Russian).
Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V. (2022) Informal Freelance Economy in Russia: A Sociological Perspective. In: Labor Law: National and International Dimensions. Moscow: Norma Publ. (in Russian).
Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V., Lukina A.A., Melianova E.G., Tyulyupo A.V. (2019) Social Factors in Choosing Contractors on the Remote Job Exchange: A Study of Competitions Using Big Data. Ekonomicheskaya sotsiologiya [Economic Sociology], 20(3): 25–65. https://doi.org/10.17323/1726-3247-2019-3-25-65 (in Russian).
Tomin L.V. (2019) Socio-economic Conflicts within the Framework of Platform Capitalism. Konfliktologiya [Konfliktologia], 14(3): 33–43. https://doi.org/10.31312/2310-6085-2019-14-3-33-43 (in Russian).
Tonkikh N.V. (2021) Remote Employment and Parenthood: Women's Opinions. Narodonaseleniye [Population], 24(3): 92–104. https://doi.org/10.19181/population.2021.24.3.8 (in Russian).
Chernykh E.A. (2021) Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Quality of Employment of Platform Workers in Russia and the World. Ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny: fakty, tendentsii, prognoz [Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast], 14(2): 172–187. https://doi.org/10.15838/esc.2021.2.74.11 (in Russian).
Chernyshev K.A., Mityagina E.V., Chernysheva N.V., Petrov E.Yu. (2023) The Scale and Directions of Educational Migration of Tuvan Youth. Novyye issledovaniya Tuvy [The New Research of Tuva], 2: 70–83. https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2023.2.5 (in Russian).
Chudinov S.I., Serbina G.N., Mundrievskaya Yu.O. (2021) Network Organization of School Shooters in the Social Network “VKontakte” on the Example of the Fan Community of the “Kerch Shooter”. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny [Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes], 4: 363–383. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2021.4.1740 (in Russian).
Shevchuk A.V., Krasilnikova A.V. (2019) The Impact of Non-Standard Working Hours on Work-Life Balance (Based on the European Social Survey in Russia). Zhurnal issledovaniy sotsial'noy politiki [The Journal of Social Policy Studies], 17(2): 223–236. https://doi.org/10.17323/727-0634-2019-17-2-223-236 (in Russian).
Shchekotin E.V., Goiko V.L., Basina P.A., Bakulin V.V. (2022) Using Machine Learning to Study the Quality of Life of the Population: Methodological Aspects. Tsifrovaya sotsiologiya [Digital Sociology], 5(1): 87–97. https://doi.org/10.26425/2658-347X-2022-5-1-87-97 (in Russian).
Shchekotin E.V., Dunaeva D.O., Basina P.A., Vakhrameev P.S. (2023) Digital Traces in Ecology: an Empirical Study. Virtual'naya kommunikatsiya i sotsial'nyye seti [Virtual Communication and Social Networks], 2(4): 255–263. https://doi.org/10.21603/2782-4799-2023-2-4-255-263 (in Russian).
Iskra-Golec I., Barnes-Farrell J., Bohle P. (2016) Social and family issues in shift work and non standard working hours. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42286-2.
Kässi O., Lehdonvirta V. (2018) Online labour index: Measuring the online gig economy for policy and research. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 137: 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.07.056.
Shevchuk A., Strebkov D., Tyulyupo A. (2021) Always on across time zones: Invisible schedules in the online gig economy. New Technology, Work and Employment, 36(1): 94–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12191.
Article
Received: 01.11.2024
Accepted: 29.10.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
ACM
[1]
Turakayev, M.S. and Battalova, A.I. 2025. Regional, sectoral and socio-demographic differentiation in the structure of labor supply on the Russian employment platform Profi. Zhurnal sotsiologii i sotsialnoy antropologii (The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology). 28, 3 (Oct. 2025), 30-56. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31119/jssa.2025.28.3.2.
Section
Sociology of Labour
JATS XML
" />
