Vol. 54 No. 3 (2026): Published on September 30, 2026.
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/26584956/2026/3/2150
Strategies for regional regulation of migrant labor in Russia
The active use by Russian regions of the right to impose bans on the employment of foreign workers holding patents has become a widespread but poorly understood practice. Against the backdrop of record-low nationwide unemployment and a structural labor shortage, a contradiction arises between the economy need for migrants and growing regional restrictions. Aim. To empirically identify and typologize the strategies of regional labor regulation concerning foreign workers employed on the basis of patents. The objective was to construct an explanatory model that reveals the reasons for the variability of regulatory approaches across the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Methodology. Grounded theory approach as developed by A. Strauss and J. Corbin. The empirical base consists of regulatory acts (decrees of regional heads) for 2024–2026 and statistical data on the socio-economic development of eight Russian regions for 2024–2025. Data analysis involved three stages of coding (open, axial, selective). Results. The analysis identified three persistent strategies of regional regulation: 1) “Targeted regulation for public safety and manageability” (selective bans in socially sensitive areas); 2) “Systemic policy of labor market protectionism” (extensive restrictions, including in backbone industries, aimed at workforce sovereignty); 3) “Targeted policy of labor market protectionism” (adaptive, cautious bans that account for the vulnerability of the regional economy). It is shown that the differences between the strategies are related to the scope of bans, the inclusion or exclusion of backbone industries, and the dynamics of expanding the list within the limits of federal regulations. The study is correlational in nature and does not evaluate the economic effectiveness of the bans. The uniqueness of this research lies in applying grounded theory procedures to generate a new theoretical model that explains regional migration policies through a system of interrelated conditions, contexts, and strategies of government action. This work contributes to the sociology of management by offering a typology of regulatory instruments that can be used to forecast and design measures aimed at reducing social tensions and adapting the labor market to migration challenges.
For citation: Rovbel S.V., Nikolaev A.I. Strategies for regional regulation of migrant labor in Russia. Journal of Wellbeing Technologies, 2026, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 47–63. https://doi.org/10.18799/26584956/2026/3/2150
Keywords:
research strategy, migration policy, grounded theory, work patent, protectionism, regional regulation, labor market, migrant workers
References:
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