The Role of Migration in the Formation of Regional Labour Markets Amidst the Second Wave of Depopulation in Modern Russia

The article reflects the results of a study of the impact of migration on regional labour markets amidst a decline in the working-age population in Russia. After substantiating the relevance of the issues under consideration, the authors propose a methodological analysis toolkit, the author’s own methodology for calculating the coefficients of permanent long-term external and internal labour migration in regional labour markets, and the coefficient of total migration burden. In addition, the authors provide an overview of the information and statistical base of the study. According to current migration records, data of Rosstat sample surveys on Russian labour migrants leaving for employment in other regions, regional labour resources balance sheets based on the calculated coefficients of labour market pressures, the authors analyzed the impact of migration on the Russian regional labour markets over the past decade.
It revealed an increasing role of internal labour migration in many regions, primarily in the largest economic agglomerations and oil and gas territories. At the same time, the role of external labour migration remains stable and minimum indicators of the contribution of permanent migration to the formation of regional labour markets continue to decrease. It has been established that irrational counter flows of external and internal labour migration have developed, which indicates not only an imbalance in labour demand and supply but also a discrepancy between the qualitative composition of migrants and the needs of the economy.
It is concluded that the state does not effectively regulate certain types of migration, considering its impact on the labour market. The authors justified the need for conducting regular household sample surveys according to specific programs to collect information about labour migrants and the conditions for using their labour. In addition to the current migration records, using interregional analysis, this information allows making more informed decisions at the federal and regional levels to correct the negative situation that has developed in the regional labour markets even before the coronavirus pandemic had struck.

1. Rybakovsky L.L. On the Eve of the Choice: The Second Stage of the Depopulation or Demographic Growth? Narodonaselenie [Population]. 2013;4(62):39-49. (In Russ.)

2. Ryazantsev S.V. (ed.) Demographic Situation in Russia: New Challenges and Ways of Optimization: National Demographic Report. Moscow: Ekon-Inform Publ.; 2019. 79 p. (In Russ.)

3. Vorobyeva O.D., Topilin A.V. Integration of Migrants: A Selective Approach towards Various Categories and a Compensating Effect of External Migration. Migration Law. 2019;(1):29-36. (In Russ.)

4. Zayonchkovskaya Zh.A. Federal Districts on the Russian Migration Map. Region: Economics and Sociology. 2012;3(75):3-18. (In Russ.)

5. Paskachev A.B. Terrorist Risks and Migration Security. Moscow: Litera Publ.; 2019. 198 p. (In Russ.)

6. Pan’kin P.V. Regulation of Labor Market in View of Labour Migration Specifics. Yelets: Bunin Yelets State University (YelSU) Publ.; 2019. 198 p. (In Russ.)

7. Topilin A.V. Migration and the Internal Labor Market: Analysis and Regulation Problems. Economist. 2014;(11):73-82. (In Russ.)

8. Ryazantsev S.V. Contribution of Labour Migration to the Economy of Russia: Evaluation Methods and Results. Humanities and social sciences. Bulletin of The Financial University. 2016;6(2):6-28. (In Russ.)

9. Milyaeva L.G., Rumyantseva E.A. Methodical Approach Towards Estimating the General Attractiveness of the Job Vacancies Stated at the Employment Agency. Kazan Socio-Humanitarian Bulletin. 2010;1(1):61-65. (In Russ.)

10. Moiseenko V.M. Essays on the Study of Population Migration in Russia in the Second Half of XIXth Century - Early XXth Century. Moscow: TEIS Publ.; 2008. 187 p. (In Russ.)

11. Lenin V.I. The Development of Capitalism in Russia. Selected works. Vol. 2. Moscow: Politizdat; 1990. (In Russ.)

12. Vorobyova O.D., et al. Labor Migration: Organization of Selective Observations (Methodological Approaches). Moscow: Publishing house «Econ-Inform»; 2015. 83 p. (In Russ.)