Migration in the Context of the Demographic Development of the Russian Far East

Abstract: Major demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of migration flows in the Far East Federal District of Russia are considered. The topicality of this task is determined by the need to identify the factors stimulating the migration outflow of the population from the Far East, as well as the importance of clarifying the role of migration in the formation of the region’s human capital. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility to use its results to improve the Concept of the Demographic Policy of the Far East and to develop an integral set of measures to regulate migration in the region. The material for the study was the array of Rosstat statistical data on migration in the Far East Federal District for 2019. The quantitative distribution of migrants by territories of arrival and departure, age groups, circumstances that caused the need to change their place of residence, educational level, types of economic activity, and status in employment has been analyzed. It has been found that migration contributes to an increase in the share of young people in the age structure of the region’s population; at the same time, as a result of migration, the region loses specialists with higher education and high qualifications. It has also been established that as a result of exchange with foreign countries (primarily Central Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as East and Southeast Asia), the Far East receives a significant share of the migration gain of the working-age population, as well as highly qualified specialists and foreign students. In conclusion, general recommendations are made for improving the region’s migration policy in terms of reducing the outflow of the most competitive population to other regions of Russia, as well as attracting foreign migrants.