Potentials for migration and mobility among oil workers in the russian north

Abstract

. High population mobility, mainly in the form of out‐migration, is a characteristic feature of the post‐Soviet Russian North. As subsidies from the centre were significantly cut, living standards and the number of inhabitants in many Russian peripheries declined considerably. Nevertheless, there are also prospering regions and industry sectors in these parts of Russia, which are often related to and dependent on the exploitation of natural resources. After introducing general Soviet and post‐Soviet mobility and migration patterns in the north of Russia, this article examines the mobility behaviour of oil workers. The analyses are based on a case study of an oil company (SeverTEK) from the Komi Republic and incorporate different statistical approaches. The purpose of the study is to assess past, present and future mobility behaviour of those in northern regions who are benefitting from post‐Soviet transition and will most likely contribute most to a positive development of the Russian North. The results show that the surveyed employees of SeverTEK have migrated in the past mainly from Siberia, the Far East, and the now independent countries of the former Soviet Union to northern and central parts of European Russia. The present mobility behaviour is strongly characteristic of shift work employment with long‐distance commuting. An analysis of intended migration indentifies strong potentials for future migrations among the oil workers of the case study. It appears that many employees are ready to leave northern regions as soon as their job situation allows it. Therefore, unlike in other resource peripheries such as Western Australia, long‐distance commuting is in Russia not used as a decentralization measure; instead it offers opportunities for reducing the problematically high population density of the post‐Soviet North.

Spatial differentiation of urban population change in Russia

“…Persons inhabiting peripheral areas have a sense of being separated from their country's mainstream life and want to leave their "isolated territory" and "isolated community". In addition, they are perceived by the authorities as a "problem" and even "human burden" (Wein, 1999;Thompson, 2004;Spies, 2009). Declining population figures were also seen by cities of the Southern Urals (irrespective of their size), what, as may be expected, is linked to their economic decline.…”

“…Limiting the operations, or in the worst-case scenario, liquidation of such an employer caused significant outflows of population, mainly that of working age, and an actual fall of the city (Maslova, 2011). Population outflows are caused mainly by economic decline (large unemployment following liquidation of non-viable enterprises, relatively high maintenance costs and deteriorating infrastructure), intensified by peripheral location and the resultant economic (Wites, 2007) and social impacts (Wein, 1999;Thompson, 2004;Spies, 2009). The greatest population growth in the category was seen by cities having an advantageous location relative to the state border and growth poles (Vysotsk in the Leningrad Oblast -33.9%, a major sea port, Ladushkin in the Leningrad Oblast -21.8%; Kamenogorsk in the Leningrad Oblast, foreign investments, railway line modernisation for goods transport to Finland) or lying in oil and natural gas producing areas (Kedrovy in the Tomsk Oblast -22.7%).…”

‘Going away on foot’ once again: the revival of temporary labour migration from Russia's Dagestan

“…In an early review, Wegren and Drury (2001, p. 15) wrote that 'relatively little attention has been devoted in the academic literature to internal migration flows or their potential impact on transitional Russia.' More recent work has addressed internal migration with respect to employment fields or geographic regions (Eldarov et al 2007, Spies 2009). There is a growing consensus that internal migration is important to the Russian economy; Wegren and Drury (2001) reported that in the mid-1990s, 80% of all Russian migration was internal.…”

Etniczny wymiar depopulacji w Rosji w ujęciu regionalnym

“…lokalizacja miejsca zamieszkania w ujęciu centrum-peryferie, miasto-wieś, dostępność do infrastruktury społecznej; peryferyjność przyczynia się do utrudnienia kontaktów międzyludzkich z instytucjami i grupami społeczeństwa zarówno położonymi w centrum danego państwa, jak i przedstawicielami społeczeństwa globalnego. Osoby zamieszkujące obszary peryferyjne mają poczucie odizolowania od głównego nurtu życia kraju i wykazują chęć opuszczenia "izolowanego terytorium" i "izolowanego społeczeństwa"; dodatkowo postrzegani są przez władze jako "problem", a nawet "ludzki balast" (Wein 1999;Thompson 2004;Spies 2009); (4) administracyjnych, np. likwidacja ograniczeń formalnych hamujących mobilność ludności (Wein 1999); (5) historycznych, tj.…”

“…decyzje podejmowane w okresie gospodarki centralnie planowanej i zagospodarowywaniu obszarów peryferyjnych (m.in. Heleniak 2003;Spies 2009); (6) środowiskowych (tj. jakości środowiska) -dotyczy to tych miast i obszarów, które obecnie są poddane silnej antropopresji (np.…”