The study focuses on the development of vocational education in the Yakut ASSR in the mid-1960s and the creation of a separate republican directorate to modernize the industry. By using little-known archival docu-ments, the article recreates an accurate picture of the development of vocational education in the region, char-acterizing the shortage of educational institutions and personnel despite the high demand from the rapidly de-veloping mining industry. At the beginning of 1964, there were only 11 vocational schools operating in Yakutia, which was clearly insufficient for the needs of the economy. There was an acute shortage of personnel, com-pensated by imported workers with low qualifications, which was partially offset by short-term training courses. The creation of the Yakutsk Republican Department of Vocational Education in 1964 stimulated a significant increase in the number of vocational school graduates and the active construction of new educational and resi-dential buildings.