Social and Political Implications of Labor Migration in Ukraine in the Mirror of the Sociological Analysis

Abstract

Based on official data and sociological studies the article provides an overview of the main features of contemporary migration processes in Ukraine and its key implications for changes in the socio-political situation in the country. The conclusion is that international labor migration from Ukraine is a natural form of citizens’ spatial self-organization in the conditions of the economic crises and unstable political situation in the country and the world. Attention is drawn to the fact that although immigration is gaining momentum in Ukraine (since the mid-2000s it became the host country with a positive balance of international movements), it is unable to compensate for the increasing competential imbalance in the domestic labor market and make up for the loss of national human resources. Low integration potential of the existing system of social and labor relations prevents the successful inclusion into society of returning Ukrainian migrants and arriving in Ukraine foreign labor force. Prevention of mass migration outflows from Ukraine due to improved economic, legal and civil environment in the country, promotion of comprehensive monitoring of citizens entering and leaving the country and their full integration into the internal labor market should be a priority of the national strategy and tactics for the national development of Ukraine.