Introduction. In the context of implementing national projects aimed at ensuring Russia’s technological sovereignty, the issue of staffing in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and veterinary industries is becoming increasingly relevant. Despite the high demand for specialists in these sectors, the higher education system faces significant student attrition, which reduces both the actual effectiveness of workforce training and the efficiency of public spending.
Aim. This study aims to identify structural imbalances in personnel training for the aforementioned industries by analyzing trends in enrollment, graduation and employment between 2015 and 2024, as well as to assess the impact of student attrition on labour shortages.
Methods. The empirical basis of the study includes data from the federal statistical monitoring forms and official graduate employment statistics for 2015–2024. The study focuses on seven enlarged groups of specialties and fields of study that contribute to the human resource capacity of the target industries. The sample is confined to state-funded higher education institutions, full-time attendance, and state-funded enrollment.
Results. A persistent pattern of student attrition was identified, with losses ranging from 10% to 66% of enrolled students depending on the field of study and educational level. Despite a declining absolute number of graduates, the proportion of those employed in their field of training remains consistently high (80–95%), indicating unmet demand from relevant industries. The most critical situation is observed in the fields of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials (up to 48% attrition), Industrial Ecology and Biotechnology (up to 66%), and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (up to 44%). Pharmacy demonstrates the most favorable student retention dynamics, with retention rates reaching up to 90%.
Scientific novelty. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of student dropout as a structural factor driving the imbalance between the supply of highly qualified personnel and the workforce needs of the chemical and related industries.
Practical significance. The findings may be used to adjust state-funded admission quotas, develop measures aimed at reducing student attrition, and improve educational program content in order to enhance workforce provision for strategically important sectors of the economy