This article looks into matters which reveal the preconditions, characteristics and troubles of taking part in innovational activities by those economically active members of Russian society who have the most professional training. Analysis is based upon data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the population’s economic welfare and health, conducted by the Higher School of Economics’ Scientific Research Institute (RLMS-HSE). It has been established that aspiration towards active participation in innovational activities is demonstrated only by a relatively small amount of qualified professionals, while most people accept the role of passive doers. It has been revealed that the willingness of qualified workers to partake in innovational activities depends on several factors, including what sort of professional activities are in question, as well as how the workers’ experience and knowledge are used, and to what extent the level of education they receive corresponds with the demands of their current jobs. A connection between entrepreneurial and innovational activity has been shown, and revealed are differences in how well-developed are professionally significant qualities depending on whether people are keen to partake in innovational activities. Close attention is paid to the fact that a large portion of workers with higher or secondary professional education are experienced in taking on a new specialty, and have at a certain time mastered the use of new work methods and new equipment. Many have developed and promoted propositions for improving manufactured products or the production process at their main or secondary workplaces. However, innovational activities were often the result of the nature of people’s professional activities, as well as it being necessary to carry out their direct duties. Nonetheless, it is currently essential to achieve balanced development of personnel potential in its entirety, as well as to engage a wide range of workers into active and initiative participation in innovational activities, and to use the creative potential of the working population to its fullest.

innovation, innovational activities, qualification, modernization, professionalism, social adaptation, human capital

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