Labor Migration from Neighboring Countries and the Standard of Living of the Moscow Region

The article analyzes the scale, structure, and consequences of labor migration from neighboring countries to the Moscow Region. Based on official data from regional authorities and sociological research, the dynamics of labor migration and its consequences are examined. The Moscow Region is one of the key centers of attraction for foreign labor migrants in Russia, with an average annual number of approximately 0.5 million people. The aim of this article is to use open statistical data and sociological research to assess the scale and specifics of employment for migrants from neighboring countries in the region, as well as to analyze the impact of external labor migration on the socioeconomic situation and standard of living of the region’s population. The object of this study is external labor migration to the Moscow Region, and its impact on the regional labor market and standard of living. The main hypothesis put forward is that, under certain institutional conditions, labor migration simultaneously reduces the risk of labor shortages (filling vacancies in construction, housing and utilities, logistics, and services) and stimulates economic growth. However, in the absence of a developed system of registration, regulation, and adaptation, it increases social tensions, labor market segmentation, inequality in access to social benefits, and uneven living standards across different population groups. The article discusses the sectoral distribution of migrant employment, their contribution to filling the labor shortage and generating gross regional product, and their impact on the standard of living and quality of life of both migrants and the local population. It concludes that a comprehensive migration policy is needed, combining tools for increasing legal employment, developing an adaptive infrastructure, and taking into account the impact of labor migration on the standard of living of the Moscow Region’s population.