SPATIAL LABOR MOBILITY AS AN INDICATOR FOR STRUCTURING THE MOSCOW AGGLOMERATION
R.A. Babkin1, D.M. Medvednikova2,3
1Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia
2Institute of Applied Economic Research, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Moscow, Russia
3Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
Keywords: labor migration, pendulum migration, labor mobility, seasonal work, mobile operators’ data, Moscow agglomeration
Abstract
The article carries out an assessment of the territorial distribution and scale of various types of spatial labor mobility within the Moscow agglomeration, utilizing data from mobile operators. Special attention is given to daily and weekly pendulum labor migrations, seasonal workers, and remotely employed citizens. The analysis reveals that a significant portion of Moscow Oblast participates in the labor market of the metropolitan agglomeration through weekly and longer pendulum correspondence, rather than daily commutes. Functionally, areas connected with Moscow by daily labor rhythms cover regions within a distance of up to 30-40 km from the Moscow Ring Road. Examination of labor movements from several major centers in the Leningrad direction, situated at varying distances from Moscow, shows that beyond the fortieth kilometer from the Ring Road, residents tend to gradually orient themselves towards local labor markets rather than take part in daily commutes, and extended cycles of pendulum labor correspondence, or semi-seasonal work, become more prevalent. While full-fledged seasonal work (“otkhodnichestvo") is less common than semi-seasonal work among Moscow Oblast residents, its significance within the agglomeration is enormous. The number of seasonal workers there is comparable to the number of semi-seasonal workers (0.7 million people), with their recruitment area extending beyond the boundaries of the agglomeration system, encompassing not only neighboring territories around Moscow Oblast, but also constituent entities across Central and Southern Russia, as well as the Volga Region. Overall, the total number of citizens that are engaged in extended labor commuting cycles and interact with the metropolitan agglomeration is comparable to the daily pendulum migrations to the capital (1.2-1.5 million people), with an additional 0,7-0,9 million individuals participating in the capital’s labor market remotely. The proposed method of comprehensive examination of the entire hierarchy of labor spatial relations can serve as a valuable tool for further integrated analysis of the poly-hierarchical system of pendulum labor migrations in Moscow or any other agglomeration.
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