External labor migration in modern Russian society: dynamics and consequences

The article is devoted to study of the topical issues of international labor migration at the current stage of development of the Russian economy with a special focus on examining the relationship between the labor market, labor shortages and migration processes. The paper characterizes the new realities of the presence of foreign workers in the national labor market in conjunction with an analysis of the ongoing changes in the volume of labor supply and the labor needs of economic sectors. Based on official international and Russian statistics and conducted sociological research, the current trends, long-term tendencies and features of labor immigration, which in recent years have significantly changed the foreign labor market in Russia, are examined. The contradictory consequences of the increased use of foreign labor on the country’s socio-economic development are discussed. It is shown that in modern conditions labor immigration is an important factor in filling niches in the labor market and compensating for labor shortages, but the contribution of migrant workers to technological development and long-term economic growth remains limited. Particular attention is paid to the problems of regulating labor immigration. It is concluded that Russian migration legislation on attracting low-skilled workers, qualified and highly qualified specialists requires adjustment and modernization. It is necessary to eliminate shortcomings in the legal regulation of the entry of foreign citizens into regional labor markets and to move to a new model of managing cross-border labor mobility that ensures optimization of the structure and selection of migration flows from abroad. The main provisions of the study can be used in practical work to improve the mechanisms for regulating the attraction and use of foreign labor and in the development of state immigration policy measures.

labor market, personnel shortage, external labor migration, migrant workers, migration policy