Central Asian Migrants in the Labour Market of Sverdlovsk Oblast: A Sociological Study

Abstract

International migration significantly affects demographic and socio-economic development of regions. The study aims to assess the situation and characteristics of adaptation of Central Asian migrants in the regional labour market and identify general trends. The sociological study was conducted in March–May 2023 in Sverdlovsk oblast using a questionnaire survey and intelligence interviews. Selected questionnaires of migrants from countries seen as the main suppliers of labour power to the regional labour market — Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — were analysed. The obtained results confirmed some conclusions of previous relevant studies and revealed new trends. The labour market of Sverdlovsk oblast is characterised by a high proportion of immigrants from Tajikistan, a growing share of people employed in the industrial sector and the tendency of immigrants from Kyrgyzstan to organise their own business. The research described the factors that help migrants adapt to the regional labour market: specific legal regulation (in Kyrgyzstan), knowledge of the Russian language, family ties, education, formal employment, length of stay in Russia, naturalisation. To improve the migration policy, it is recommended to control and stimulate formal employment of foreign workers by establishing a unified database and constantly monitoring information about labour migrants and their family members. Results of this study may be useful for specialists in the field of labour migration. Considering the development of new migration policy tools, it is necessary to pay attention to this prospective area of research, particularly, to the issues of labour patents and organised recruitment.