Problems and prospects for the development of the employment sphere along the “center-periphery” axis in the model region of Russia

In the face of the deteriorating of internal and external challenges, issues of preserving the labor potential of local territories located far from places of attraction of resources are becoming increasingly important for Russia. It is no coincidence that one of the typical problems of our time is the compression of the developed space and the polarization of the settlement system. The purpose of this article is to analyze the features and prospects for the development of the employment sphere in the model region of Russia along the “center-periphery” axis. Due to the limited municipal statistics, the study turned to the results of an expert survey of employment service specialists of the Vologda region, conducted in April 2023. Anticipating the analysis, all districts were divided into three groups: agglomeration zone, urban periphery and rural periphery. This made it possible to reveal the relationship between the social and economic division of territories and their proximity to centers of business activity. Thus, according to experts, the periphery is distinguished not only by modest opportunities for the implementation of labor and social plans, but also by unfavorable conditions for the development of the employment sphere in general. At the same time, despite the better position, the future of the agglomeration zone is also seen mainly through the prism of negative scenarios. An important role in solving existing problems is assigned to employment offices, which provide a wide range of services for citizens and employers. And if the former refuse to seek help in finding a job due to the lack of desired vacancies and their low quality, then interaction with the latter is hindered by their own disinterest. Prospects for the development of the employment sphere in the periphery are primarily associated with the creation of new jobs, the expansion of support retention of workers, the implementation of industrial, infrastructure and socially significant projects. In turn, an increase in the efficiency of the activities of employment services can be achieved by improving working conditions, reducing the bureaucratic burden and administrative operations.