Peculiarities of Territorial Population Mobility in Yakutia under COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions

Abstract

The article discusses the special characteristics of the territorial mobility of the population of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Changes in the migration situation, structure of migration and migration activity of the population in different social and economic zones of the region in the context of the coronavirus pandemic are analyzed. The analysis shows that the peculiarities of distribution of productive forces and human resources in the labor market retain a fairly high potential for labor migration to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) from the CIS countries and far abroad in the context of a pandemic, the share of arriving migrants indicating work among the reasons for migration continues to grow. The influence of socio-economic characteristics and urgent problems of the republic on the formation of migration activity and migration intentions of the population is considered. The article is based on the results of a mass survey in Yakutia (n=200). Analysis of the survey results shows that the features of territorial mobility, migration intentions of the population and absence of migration plans depend on the socio-economic conditions of residence, various factors of individual social status and position, and mobility resources. With mostly satisfactory assessments of the socio-economic situation in the republic and most factors of social life in the region, the respondents’ migration intentions are conditioned by low incomes and territorial specifics — remoteness from the central regions of the country, the high cost of air fares and harsh climatic conditions. In the pandemic conditions, the spatial mobility of the population, as one of the most important social resources of society, is most characteristic of the part of young people who have financial resources, unmarried, seeking better socio-economic and climatic conditions, to regions with better infrastructure, where they can get a decent job, quality education, medical services, recreation and leisure.