When to look for a job in 2026: which months offer the highest salaries
Choosing the time to look for a job can directly affect not only the number of available vacancies, but also the level of salaries offered. The activity of employers throughout the year is unevenly distributed: there are pronounced peaks and periods of lull in the labor market related to business cycles, budget planning and seasonality in certain industries. When it is most profitable for applicants to enter the labor market and in which months it is easier to find a high—paying job - in the Izvestia article.
Autumn is the main season of high salaries
According to the director hh.ru According to Maria Ignatova's research, autumn is traditionally considered the most favorable period for finding profitable vacancies — from September to November. It is at this time that the peak of hiring activity and the growth of salary offers occur.
— The peak of offers with high salaries traditionally falls in the autumn months, from September to November, and less often at the end of summer and spring — March and April, — said the specialist.
The expert notes that the platform's statistics hh.ru confirms this trend over the years. So, in September 2025, the average salary offer in vacancies reached 80 thousand rubles, which is about 10% higher than at the beginning of the year, when in January the average salary offered was about 73 thousand rubles. At the same time, the number of vacancies in September also turned out to be the highest for the year — more than 1.2 million offers throughout Russia.
The reasons for the autumn activity of employers are quite pragmatic.
— After the summer vacation period, companies return to full—fledged work, launch new projects, approve budgets for the next year and strive to close key vacancies by the end of the reporting period, - explained Maria Ignatova.
At this point, it is important for businesses to strengthen their teams and lay the foundation for future growth, which makes the labor market especially attractive to applicants.
Spring Rising: a second chance for job seekers
The expert calls spring, from February to April, another profitable period for job search. After the traditional New Year's lull, companies are beginning to actively implement plans for the year, approved at the end of the previous year.
— By March, companies approve budgets and development plans, allocating resources for staff expansion. And this is especially noticeable in manufacturing, finance, and IT, where hiring is tied to the launch of new projects," the expert emphasized.
As a result, a significant number of vacancies appear on the market in the spring with competitive conditions, albeit slightly inferior to the autumn salary offers. Accordingly, if autumn is considered the most "expensive" season on the labor market, then spring is the second most attractive period when applicants have high chances of finding stable and well—paid work.
The role of budget planning in the seasonality of hiring
Maria Ignatova calls budget planning a key factor of seasonal fluctuations in the labor market.
— Most Russian companies operate according to the calendar financial year, which forms two main peaks of hiring — in spring and autumn, — she noted.
In the spring, employers allocate resources within approved budgets and launch projects that require new specialists. In the fall, the staff is adjusted based on the results of the first half of the year, as well as the active disbursement of the remaining funds by the end of the year. This creates additional demand for employees and increases the number of vacancies.
In November and December, on the contrary, hiring activity for permanent positions usually decreases. Companies focus on preparing annual reports and strategic planning. However, this does not mean a complete lull in the labor market.
End of the year: a decline in permanent hiring and an increase in part-time earnings
According to Maria Ignatova, the structure of demand for staff is noticeably changing at the end of the year. If the number of vacancies for full-time employment is decreasing, then the demand for part-time and part-time employment, on the contrary, is sharply increasing.
— In December 2025, the number of part—time vacancies with Russian employers increased eightfold compared to the first half of November, from 2,000 to 16,700 offers. The number of part—time vacancies increased by 32%, reaching 76.3 thousand positions," the expert explained.
This trend is especially typical for trade, logistics and the service sector, where additional staff is required during the New Year's rush. For job seekers, this is an opportunity to earn temporary money or join a company with the prospect of further employment.
How does the industry influence the best job search times?
The expert draws attention to the fact that there is no universal "best month" for all professions — much depends on the specifics of the industry.
— High-tech industries such as IT and telecom are less susceptible to seasonal fluctuations. The demand for specialists here is more uniform throughout the year, although hiring peaks are also more common in spring and autumn, when new projects are launched. A more pronounced seasonality is typical for construction and the agro-industrial complex. In these industries, active hiring lasts from March to October — during the sowing season, the construction season, harvesting and the beginning of interior finishing work, — said the specialist.
Trade and logistics are highlighted separately, for which December and January are becoming a "hot" time due to holidays and rising consumer demand. Tourism and the hotel business experience a shortage of personnel in the summer, during the holiday season, as well as in winter during long vacations.
Summer lull: cons and hidden opportunities
July and August are traditionally considered to be one of the quietest months on the labor market.
— Not only job seekers go on vacation, but also recruiters and managers, which slows down the hiring process. At this time, there are fewer vacancies for permanent staff, but there may be an increase in offers for part—time work," explained Maria Ignatova.
However, as the expert notes, this period has its advantages. Competition among applicants is usually lower in the summer, so active candidates can use this time to prepare their resumes, complete training, improve their skills, and establish professional contacts. Such a reserve often allows you to enter the labor market in the fall in a more advantageous position.
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