Brain drains from the agricultural sector: the impact of personnel shortages on innovative development of the rural economy

This article examines the problem of innovative development of rural areas in Russia in the context of labor shortages in the agro-industrial sector of the economy. The aim of the study is to identify institutional and socio-economic factors contributing to the decline of human capital in the agricultural sector and to analyze the impact of these factors on the innovative development of the rural economy. Particular attention is given to the issues of attracting and retaining young professionals. The information base of the study included data from Rosstat, regional studies, and survey results from students, graduates, and young specialists residing in rural areas. It is shown that the key reasons for the “brain drain†from rural agricultural territories are the low quality of infrastructure in small towns and villages, insufficient incentives to relocate to rural areas, and the limited effectiveness of employment programs and initiatives promoting life in rural and remote regions. As directions for transforming human resource policies in the rural economy, which should be prioritized by federal and regional authorities, the study highlights the improvement of the targeted education system, the updating of educational and professional development programs in accordance with the current scientific and technological level of the sector, the development of partnerships between research organizations and agro-enterprises, and the creation of a system to support rural entrepreneurship. The results obtained can be used to inform the development of federal and regional strategies for sustainable development and enhancement of human capital in the rural economy.