Migration processes in the Russian Arctic

Since the time of the appearance of mankind, the earth world space has been mastered by means of migrations. However, only at the turn of II-III millennia, territorial movements of individuals or groups of people got global nature and turned into a global trend. According to the UN global migration statistics, in 2013 there were 232 million of migrants in the world living outside their countries (3.2% of the world population), while in 1990 their number did not exceed 154 million of people2.

Well-known expert in the field of demography and migration L.L. Rybakovsky correctly points out that "the intensity, direction and composition of migration flows, their social, economic and demographic consequences are significantly different not only in different historical periods, but in countries with different levels of economic development, different natural and geographical conditions and structures of the population" [1]. However, at the beginning of the XXI century the scope and comprehensiveness of migration processes became obvious, they have a significant impact not only on specific countries and regions, but on the entire world civilization as a whole. On the one hand, migration accelerates the processes of globalization, i.e, contributes to the establishment of integrated and interdependent world, intercultural interaction and mutual enrichment of peoples and the formation of a single global economy, more proportional distribution of labor resources, on the other — cultural, mental and religious differences of people in the absence of proper tolerance are grateful ground for inter-civilizational clashes, ethnocultural and ethnopolitical conflicts . Transparency of state borders facilitates the ability to penetrate international terrorism and crime, creating a security threat to all countries and continents. Knowledge and understanding of the migration situation in the world and in particular country or region is the basis for the effective regulation of these processes.

In context of the implementation of the "Strategy of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the national security for the period up to 2020"3, the following problem is getting the special significance: the issue of strengthening of competitive advantages of Russia in the Arctic and protecting of the border areas against the penetration of international terrorism, which is especially active in recent years in the context of the events in Syria and the mass migration of the population from the fighting zones. In turn, the need for implementation of the state program of the RF "Social and economic development of the Russian Arctic for the period till 2020"4, which aims to improve the social and economic development of the Russian Arctic under conditions of low fertility rates and labor shortages, actualizes the problem of human resource capacity, including at the expense of migrants.

The subject of migration and demography of population of the Far North and its regions, including the Russian Arctic now is a source of concern for researchers. Works of Kudryavtsev V.A. and Efremov I.A. are of considerable interest in this respect. The dissertation of Kudryavtsev V.A. presents the analysis of demographic and migration processes in the European North of Russia in 2000-2004 [2]. Age features of migration processes in the Far North of Russia are considered in the works of Efremov A.G. [3, pp. 54-62]. However, in the modern historiography the migration situation in the Arctic regions of Russia is only indirectly addressed in the context of the analysis of demographic processes, factors of formation and the state of human development of the region [4, Sushko O.P.; 5, Shelygin K.V.]. There is a territorial and temporal limitations of the research.

The majority of publications is devoted to the analysis of migration processes in specific northern regions of RF and chronologically limited by 2010. [6, Konstantinov A.S.; 7, Nazarova I.G.; 8, Mazharov V.F., Grigoryev Y.A., Plotnikov N.U, Baran O.I.; 9, Vereschagin I.F.; 10 Fauzer V.V., Lytkina T.S., Fauzer G.N.]. Currently, there is no holistic vision and understanding of the extent and dynamics of migration gain / outflow of population, the main ways of movement, the scope of labor immigrants, the extent of correspondence of their level of education and qualification to the needs of the region, which actualizes the current study.

Undoubtedly, it is extremely difficult to consider the whole complex of the set problems within limited frames the article. Migration of population is a multidimensional social phenomenon. Without making any pretence to exhaustive coverage, the author tries to present the dynamics of migration processes in the Russian Arctic in the early 21st century relying on historical excursions5.

The concepts "the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation" (AZRF), the Russian Arctic, the Arctic region are used as belonging to the same order. Among the Arctic constituent territories in this study are those which are included into the Russian Arctic land areas completely or partially: Republics of Komi and Sakha (Yakutia), Krasnoyarsk region, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, Nenets, Yamalo-Nenets, Chukotka Autonomous areas. The works of the eminent scholars in the field of migration: Denisenko MB, Iontsev VA Rybakovsky L.L. and others make the theoretical basis of the research, they recognize the complexity and multidimensionality of the investigated object, the diversity of its species, and they treat migration as any intersettlement movements of people broadly speaking (within the region, inter-regional, inter-state), and in a narrow sense as the final form of the territorial displacement, ending by relocation and change of residence [1, Rybakovsky L.L.; 11, Denisenko M.B.; 12, Iontsev V.A.].

The sources of the research base is represented by legal documents, All-Russian census materials for the period of 1989-2010; annual statistical books, "the regions of Russia: social and economic indicators", "Labor and Employment in Russia" for 2000-2015; periodically issued statistical bulletins: "Economical and social indicators of the Far North regions and areas equivalent to them in 2000-2014", "The size and migration of the population of the Russian Federation in 2015", extracted from the official website of the Federal State Statistics Service of the RF6. Valuable information about the number of international immigrants, purposes of their entry and countries of outcome for 2012-2014 was received at the official request in the framework of a grant from the territorial bodies of the Federal Migration Service, engaged in the current account of foreign nationals who have entered the region.

The results of the selective survey about the use of migrant labor in Russia, carried out in 2014, the materials of a poll of leading companies-employers, operating in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, have revealed the scope of migrant labor, the degree of their compliance with the qualitative composition (qualifications and education) to the requirements of employers.

The author has solved the set tasks, being guided by general scientific, historical and statistical research methods. The use of the method of comparative analysis, the principles of consistency and complementarity of sources allows to provide their representativeness and credibility. On the whole, the totality of the materials involved in the scientific rotation, has allowed to solve the designated problem.

The dynamics of migration processes in the XXI century.

The Russian Arctic initially, since the 9th century — its European part, since the 16th-17th centuries — the Eastern territories, was developed mainly by migrants. It is possible to identify a number of migration trends in historical and political retrospect, which influenced the formation of the pattern of the population of the studied area.

First, until the early 1990s the immigration to the Arctic region prevailed over emigration. There was a systematic build-up of human potential due to the positive dynamics of natural growth, and through voluntary, mandatory and forced migrations. Voluntary personalized motivated migration was present at all the historical time interval of the Arctic exploration. At the same time, during the 20th century, the state policy of the incentive immigration to the region was clearly expressed. It was the peasants’ resettlement program in Siberia and the Far East as part of the Stolypin agrarian reform; the Soviet state encouraged migrants by system of privileges and references to provide the population inflow to the northern circumpolar areas in order to develop natural resources there.

Second, the migration pattern of the Russian Arctic was largely determined by forced migration. As in the pre-revolutionary period, as well as during the Soviet period, the Arctic regions were the place of political exile. The resettlement of not completely loyal people as the authorities supposed, became rather considerable in 1930-1950s.

Mass migration to the North of dispossessed peasants during collectivization, the creation of an extensive network of prison camps of Gulag, with all the tragic social consequences, contributed to the economic development of the region. According to data, presented in the publication of V.V. Fauzer, only in the Komi Republic at the beginning of 1941 there were 11.2 thousand exiles, 37.8 thousand special settlers and 249.3 thousand prisoners, in total: 298.3 thousand people of forced labor [10, p. 156]. Forced migrations were not so ambitious, but particularly evident during the First and Second World Wars, when the population of the border areas moved from the zone of active combat operations to the Far North, as well as during the years of the Civil war and Foreign intervention.

Third, the unevenness of migration processes is obvious in temporal and territorial space. In 1930-1960s the migration was more intensively manifested in the European part of the Russian Arctic (Arkhangelsk, Murmansk region, the Republic of Komi), starting from 1970-1980s and especially in the 21^st century the migration vector turned to the north-eastern territories, especially to the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. Export raw economic paradigm of the state exerted significant influence on the direction and scope of migration processes in the Arctic region. During the first half of the 20^th century, the resources of the European North of Russia were rapidly developed, at the expense of migrants: forest resources, coal, metals and minerals. Since 1970s of the 20^th century the concern of the state to the oil and gas industry, mining of gold, diamonds, precious metals of the North East part of the country predestined to change of the vector of migration.

Throughout the 20th century there was a systematic migration gain in the Arctic region. Starting from 1990s the trend has been reversed and has not been overcome till now. Despite the fact that in 2011-2012 a positive demographic dynamics occurred in the majority of sub-federal units of the Russian Arctic, the population started to decrease rapidly. So, for the period of 19892002 total population reduced from 9.4 million people to 7.8 million, for 2002-2014 by another 3 million people7.

Emigration from the region significantly prevailed over immigration. In 2000, 114,514 people arrived at the Arctic areas, 154,906 people left, in 2014, respectively 186,649 people arrived, 250,352 people left. The exception is the Nenets Autonomous Area, where since 2009 there is a slight but steady dynamics of migration growth of the population. Net migration loss of population amounted to 293.7 thousand people for the period of 2008-2014. However, for 20002010 in all regions of the Russian Arctic the number of persons involved in the territorial displacement reduced, it was due to the economic crisis in the country, but since 2011 migration has started to grow again. For example, in 2010, 78,014 people (68% compared to 2000) arrived in the region, 97 893 left (63.2% of 2000 level). During 2011-2014 the number of arrivals compared to 2010 increased by 239.3%, those who left — by 255.7% 8.

The particularity of the Arctic region is the high migration activity of the population. Among the areas of the Far North, the Arctic ones9 are the leaders in the number of persons involved in territorial movements. So, for the period of 2000-2014, 222,493 people (23% of the population) arrived at the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), in 2014 289,593 (30% of the population) left; 12,178 people (28% of the population) arrived at the Nenets AA, 12 433 (28.6% of the population) left; 236,331 people (43.7% of the population) arrived at the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, 257,655 (47.7% of the population) left10.

The intensity of migration exchange is stipulated by several factors. Among them are intraregional migration (of rural population to cities, relocation of people to more prosperous areas of the constituent unit, nomadic migration of indigenous peoples and others.); outflow of young people in promising regions of the country; departure of persons of retirement age in favorable climatic zones, shift methods of work. According to official data, in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation 14% of payroll employees work in shifts, in the Yamal-Nenets area their number reaches 46%, in the Nenets Autonomous Area — 25%, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) — 20%11.

Modern state policy also contributes to move from the Arctic region, as it is aimed at supporting citizens willing to leave the Far North and equivalent areas. Real political practice started in 2002 with the adoption of federal law "On housing subsidies to citizens leaving regions of the Far North and equivalent areas", it continues to be implemented now, with some changes and additions12.

The analysis of the distribution of the number of arrivals / departures in the Arctic is extremely diverse and stipulated by the specific economic development of the territory, the level and quality of life, the features of work. In the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Krasnoyarsk region with vast, uneven developed areas, intra-regional movements of population are dominated, in the Republic of Komi and Arkhangelsk region intra immigration of rural population to cities and interregional emigration from depressed regions are more expressed. For Murmansk region, Nenets and Yamal-Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous District, where the shift method of work is developed, inter-regional migration is typical13.

International migrations in the Arctic region in general are not large and below the Russiawide figures. Thus, the share of international immigrants from the total number of departures in 2014 was 7.1%, the proportion of arrivals from abroad in the Russian Federation in the Russian Federation — 12.5%. On average in the Arctic region of 4.3% and 9.3% respectively. The exception is the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, where the proportion of international migrants is much higher national importance: 18.5% and 28.4%, respectively, due to the intense entry and exit of foreign experts to work on joint oil and gas companies

Thus, the share of international immigrants from the total number of departures in 2014 was 7.1% in RF, the proportion of arrivals from abroad in the RF — 12.5%. On average in the Arctic region 4.3% and 9.3% are respectively. The exception is the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, where the proportion of international migrants is much higher of the Russianwide figures: 18.5% and 28.4%, respectively, due to the intense entry and exit of foreign experts to work on joint oil and gas companies14.

International population movements in the country and the region during the monitoring period were undulating in nature and were caused by the general economic and political situation in the former Soviet Union, countries and regions. In 1990s, in connection with the fall of the “Iron curtain”, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the liberalization of all spheres of public life, their intensity significantly increased. There was a return of compatriots from neighboring countries, in turn, the tendency of outflow from Russia and its regions increased of those originating from foreign countries (Germans, Jews, and others) and former Soviet republics.

During the 2000s, in connection with the stabilization of the social and economic situation in the country, the scale of international migration considerably reduced, but in recent years in connection with the events in Ukraine and increase of the crisis in the economy once again is gaining momentum. So, in 2000 in the country on the whole the proportion of immigrants from the total number of arrivals was 13.5%, in 2005 — 8.5%, in 2010 — 9.1%, in 2014 — 12.5%. The share of immigrants among the total number of departures: 2000 — 6.0%, 2011 — 1.2%, 2014 — 7.1%15. A similar trend is observed in the Arctic regions of Russia. The regional average share of international immigrants from the total number of arrivals in the region in 2000 was 10.8%, in 2010 — 7.5% in 2010 — 9.3%. The share of international immigrants from the total number of drop-outs, respectively, in 2000 — 7.1%, in 2010 — 1.5%, in 2014 — 4.3%16. According to the countries of origin, in the Arctic region, as well as as a whole in Russia, the immigration from neighboring countries dominates, although in the border regions of the Arctic there is a significant proportion of people from abroad. For example, in the Arkhangelsk region 38.4% of migrants were from foreign countries, from the total number of migrants registered in 2012, in Murmansk region — 58.6%. Main countries of origin of migrants: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine. In 2014, due to the events in Ukraine the flow of migrants from Ukraine has increased in 1.5-2 times in the region17.

The analysis of the age structure of the persons involved in the migration processes allows us to conclude that the more mobile part of the population is working-age persons. For example, 73.6% of migrants in the Russian Federation are persons of working age. The share of working-age persons among the Arctic migrants exceeds the average Russian values only in the Komi Republic (75.8%), the Sakha (Yakutia) — 81%, the Yamal-Nenets (76.7%), and Chukotka (77.8%), which is associated with the arrival of the working population in the oil and gas producing regions, working in shifts and outflow of retired people to more favorable climatic regions. In turn, this indicator in the Arkhangelsk region is 72%, which is largely due to high unemployment, which for the period of 2011-2014 increased from 5.8% to 7.3%18.

However, in contrast to the Russian Federation as a whole, where there is a migration flow of the working population, in the Arctic regions, except the Nenets Autonomous and the Krasnoyarsk areas, the outflow is obvious. Only in 2014 the net migration loss of able-bodied population was 32,816 people19.

The peculiarity of the Arctic region is active departure from the harsh climatic zone of people of retirement age. The proportion of people older than working population among leaving is significantly higher than the national average: 10.6% in the region compared with 9.6% in the Russian Federation 20. The outflow of young people is also noticeable in the investigated regions of the Russian Arctic. The net migration loss of people below working age in 2014 was 4035 people. However, this trend is more characteristic for the Republic of Komi and Sakha (Yakutia), the Arkhangelsk region. In other regions, there is a positive migration dynamic. For instance, in the Murmansk region in 2014 the gain of people below working age exceeded the outflow in 587 people21.

According to the objectives, the migration in the Arctic region is represented by all its kinds: labor, business, educational, tourism. The region, where is a significant number of small indigenous peoples lives, nomadic migration is present. Labour international migration in the region varies between 20-50% of the total arrivals, depending on the constituent territory. For example, in 2014 40.3% of the foreign nationals, who arrived at the Arkhangelsk region, intended to work, 50% — in the Nenets Autonomous Area, 21.2% — in the Murmansk region, 20.3% — in Vorkuta (the Komi Republic), about 30% — in the Krasnoyarsk region% 22.

During the analyzed period, there is a trend of steady increase in number of inter-regional migrants almost in all the Arctic regions of Russia. In 2005 24.9 thousand of people arrived at the areas of the Russian Arctic to be engaged in labour activities and in 2014 - already 140.3 thousand of people. the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area is the the leader in the attractiveness of domestic migrant workers in absolute values, where 70.8 thousand of people or 50% of the total number of labor migrants to the Russian Arctic arrived to be employed from other regions only in 201423. In general, the entry of labor migrants exceeds the departures from the Arctic region in several times. For example, in 2005, 4.9 thousand of labour migrants left the Arctic areas in other regions of the country, 71.9 thousand arrived. In 2014, respectively 22.4 thousand of people and 140.3

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thousand. The exception is the Arkhangelsk region, where the number of those leaving to work in other regions of the country exceeds the entry in several times, due to low social and economic attractiveness of the region, high unemployment, relatively low wages24.

Average nominal monthly wages of employees of organizations in the Arkhangelsk region is the smallest in the Russian Arctic, in 2014 it barely exceeded 36 thousand rubles, and there is the maximum rate of unemployment: 7.3%. In turn, the proportion of migrants traveling from the Nenets, Yamal-Nenets, Chukotka autonomous district is extremely low, where the wage level is 2 times higher, the opportunities for employment are wider, the unemployment rate is minimal, 3-5%25.

The analysis of the educational level of migrants allows us to conclude that one of the negative migration trend is typical for the Russian Arctic as a whole — the outflow of highly educated and skilled workers, "brain drain", observed in almost all areas. Only in 2014 the net migration loss of people with higher and incomplete higher education amounted to almost 13 thousand people, more than 11 thousand people with secondary vocational education, more than 1 thousand people with an initial vocational education. Similar trend involves negative consequences, as it slows down the pace of innovation and social and economic development of the Russian Arctic. In turn, in Russia there is an absolute increase in the migration of persons with education. In 2014 the intellectual potential of the country was added by 76 thousand people with higher and incomplete higher education, 68.6 thousand people with secondary vocational education26.

Areas of the professional activity of inter-regional labor migrants have not got good representation in official statistics. There are only selective survey data of 2014 about the use of labor migrant by entrepreneurs. They show that the entrepreneurs of the country prefer to employ their compatriots from other regions in the area of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and household equipment (36.4%), operations with real estate, renting and providing services (18.5%), transport system of and communication services (12.2%), manufacturing (8.2%), construction (7.6%). In the Arctic areas the number of the Russian labor migrants attracted by entrepreneurs is extremely low — 7.5 thousand people and they are mainly work in the field of transport and communications. 76% of domestic labor migrants, attracted by

Ibid.

entrepreneurs work in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area. The ratio of the application fields of their activity is similar to the all-Russian data27.

Foreigners who have received permission to work, are used in Russia mainly in the field of mining and construction (27%), as unskilled workers in all sectors of the economy (20.8%), the specialists of the average level of qualification of physical and engineering activities (10.2%). In the Arctic regions of Russia, the share of persons employed in mining and construction, is significantly higher than the average Russian values and is 43.5% in total. In particular, in the regional cross section, the picture is differentiated: Chukotka — 29.9%, the Murmansk region — 32.3%, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous area — 36.9%, the Nenets Autonomous area — 42.8%, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) — 65, 6%, the Arkhangelsk region — 72%.

Then the priorities of employers in terms of the use of labor of international migrants are distributed as follows: drivers and machinists of mobile equipment — 10.7%, workers in metalworking and machine-building enterprises — 9.3%, operators and machinists of industrial plants — 5.5%, heads of institutions, organizations, enterprises and their structural units — 4.2%, the specialists of the average level of qualification in physical and engineering activities — 4%, experts in the field of natural and engineering sciences, operators, machinists and mechanicians of stationary equipment — 3.8% (each category). It is necessary to recognize that in the Arctic areas the labor of unskilled workers is less required. Only 3.5% of international migrants are engaged in this activity28.

According to official data, the use of migrant labor generally in line with the needs of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens are mainly used in those areas where there is acute shortage of staff29.

According to results of the survey of leading companies-employers, operating in the Arctic zone of Russia, mostly the skilled workers and mid-level professionals will be needed in the region, within next three years, in the following economic activities: extraction of fuel and energy resources, especially in the Nenets Autonomous Area and Krasnoyarsk region, mining except fuel and energetic; metallurgical production and production of vehicles and equipment, especially in the

Murmansk region30. Successful solution of the existing problem will be possible in two ways: through the training of specialists inside the region and by engaging appropriately qualified migrants.

Conclusion

Summing up, it should be noted that in general, throughout the study period one of the most important factors of settlement and development of territories of the Far North and the Arctic was migration, which was presented in all its aspects.

The state forced and incentive migrations played prominent role in forming the picture of the region's population. Forced methods of population transfer were used in 1930-1950, when hundreds of thousands people, the so-called "dispossessed peasants" and political prisoners were exiled to the Arctic regions. At the same time, during 1930-1980s, the involvement of the population in the region was carried out through a developed system of social benefits and guarantees for people living and working in the harsh northern climate.

Vectors of migration (inflow/outflow of the population), their intensity were directly dependent on the state policy of development of circumpolar regions. The Soviet concept was based on the idea of need for integrated social economic and cultural development and the improvement of territories, the creation of appropriate conditions for the people living and working in the region. Social and economic attractiveness of the region, high level of wages stimulated the inflow of migrants. Accordingly, the population size in the region steadily increased due to positive demographic dynamics and the gain of migrants.

Starting from the 1990s the theory of shift method of development of natural resources prevailed in government circles, especially for the north-eastern regions, so respectively, permanent population, especially in the "old" centers of industrialization, was left to the mercy of fate. As a result, rapid decline in population began due to negative demographic and migration dynamics, which has not been overcome till now. During the period 1989-2014 the number of population of the Russian Arctic decreased practically double.

As noted above, in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation 14% of payroll employees work in shifts, in a number of areas this figure exceeds the mark of 40%. Undoubtedly, this method of development of areas is due to severe social and economical situation in the country and lack of funds for the integrated development of the country and the region. However, the preference of the shift method without due attention to the problems of old-population can have significant negative consequences: the depopulation of areas, further deterioration of the economic and social and cultural infrastructure, predatory attitude to the environment. Population, staying in the territory for some period of time only, will hardly be concerned about the historical fate of the region. The situation is made worse by the outflow of the most creative and innovative part of the population from the region, those with high levels of education and skills, that will hardly contribute to strengthening of the country's position in the Arctic, will significantly complicate the implementation of the strategic goal — improving the social and economic development of the Russian Arctic, designated in the State Program "Social and economic development of the Russian Arctic zone for the period up to 2020".

The labor immigration of compatriots and foreign citizens in the region is still present, that can partially solve the problem of labor shortage. It is more significant in the Arctic entities of oil and gas orientation. The region badly needs the support of the state, without which the sustainable economic and social development and strengthening of the country's competitive advantages in the Russian Arctic is difficult. Well-thought-out policy is necessary here, aimed at preserving and strengthening the population in the Arctic region and at the same time attracting migrants of appropriate qualification and level of education.