Transformations of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Russia: from Uncertainty to Sustainable Growth

The article attempts to consider the consequences of sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia in 2022 for small and medium-sized businesses. The purpose of the study was to study the processes characterizing small and medium-sized businesses based on a study of the rhetoric of publications related to the sanctions impact in the period from 2022 to 2025. A content analysis of publications posted on the Internet and devoted to the transformation of small and medium-sized businesses revealed that economic sanctions led to a significant economic downturn in the small and medium-sized business segment in 2022, and affected the social sphere, where there was an increase in social tension due to income inequality among Russians, layoffs, and job cuts. time for employees, the movement of personnel between enterprises, or towards self-employment, the outflow of personnel to defense industry enterprises. The socio-economic consequences of Western sanctions on workers of small and medium-sized enterprises, including unemployment and social inequality, are examined, current data from the Federal State Statistics Service on the unemployment rate in Russia in 2022 are presented, the number of unemployed increased by 6000 in June, and according to experts, unemployment was expected to continue to rise. There was a decrease in the number of applications from employers for staff. The analysis of the statistics published in 2023–2025 showed the inconsistency of negative forecasts and the successful adaptation of small and medium-sized businesses to new conditions. Sanctions have become a point of development for entrepreneurship, which has certainly affected the economy and the labor market. Of paramount importance in the constructive transformation of small and medium-sized businesses are measures of state support for citizens and entrepreneurs, which primarily include: preferential loans, reducing the tax burden, and social benefits. It is concluded that the Russian economy has shown resilience, and the sanctions imposed have to some extent contributed to its internal restructuring and the establishment of new foreign economic relations. Conclusions are also drawn about the necessary measures of state support for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia.