New Delhi, Dec. 29 -- Russia is the new Gulf for India's blue-collar workforce, as the Eurasian country taps its vast pool of skilled welders, tailors and steel fixers. Companies handling recruiting for overseas jobs noted increased hiring from Russia in the last few years, as the country navigates a grinding war and a shrinking workforce.

Hiring of Indian workers is up 60% in the last four years, recruitment firms specializing in overseas jobs said, adding it is expected to grow after the two long-time partners recently agreed to enhance labour mobility. To be sure, the high growth comes on a low base.

"We used to send 300 welders a year from India for the oil and gas industry between 2018 and 2020-21. Since then, we send 500 every yea...