Employment as an indicator of sustainable development of rural areas in the Far-Eastern region with a special nature management regime (on the example of Republic of Buryatia)

The article is a continuation of a cycle of publications devoted to the study of social problems and contradictions of sustainable development of the territories. The authors note that significant restrictions on the development of economic activity, including agriculture, due to the special nature management regime in the Baikal natural territory, generally hinder the development of the regional economy. In particular, in this article, the authors explore the impact of environmental restrictions on the employment of the rural population as an indicator of the sustainable development of rural areas. The object of study was the Barguzinsk, Pribaikalsk, Kabansk, Severo-Baikalsk districts and the city of Severobaikalsk, within the boundaries of which the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory in the Republic of Buryatia passes. The study used methods of comparative analysis and economic and statistical methods. The information base was the data of the Federal State Statistics Service for 1990–2023. Changes in the basic types of economic activity in terms of the share of the population employed in them are considered. The factors negatively affecting the development of agriculture and other branches of the agro-industrial complex in the region with environmental regulation are determined. Studies have shown that in order to develop agriculture, increase employment in rural areas, and reduce the risk of migration losses, targeted measures are needed to increase the availability of transport and social services. The main conclusions and recommendations can be used by the authorities in development of the programs to promote employment and socio-economic development of the regions.