Foreign Labor in the Regions: Comparative Analysis of Approaches to Assessing Economic and Social Efficiency

This study analyzes regional methods for assessing the effectiveness of foreign labor force (FLW) utilization in Russian regions. The objective is to systematize existing approaches to assessing FLW utilization and identify common trends and characteristics, as well as identify factors that differentiate regional methods. The research methodology includes a systematic and comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative indicators. The study is based on an examination of regulatory documents issued by executive authorities in ten constituent entities of the Russian Federation, representing various types of regions in terms of migration burden and sectoral economic structure. The authors conclude that regions demonstrate significant autonomy in developing their assessment systems. The level of detail of indicators, the presence of veto criteria, and assessment priorities are determined based on the level of socioeconomic development, as well as the FLW burden per region. The authors conclude that it is necessary to move beyond the formal implementation of federal legislation to the development of systemic tools for the strategic management of labor migration by regional executive authorities. Most regions rely on cost-benefit analysis, ignoring strategic regional development goals. The study’s results can be used by federal and regional authorities to improve migration policy.