Research into the Conditions and Drivers of Labor Potential Reproduction in the Vologda Oblast Municipal Districts

Abstract

The article presents the reproduction of labor potential of a municipal district as a continuous renewal process of its quantitative and qualitative features, consisting of three consecutive phases: formation, distribution (including redistribution) and exploitation. The research paper reveals the problems and specifics of labor potential reproduction at the municipal level on the basis of processing available statistical and sociological information on the districts of the Vologda Oblast. The materials of the territorial body of the Federal State Statistics Service in the Vologda Oblast and databases of questionnaire surveys conducted by ISEDT RAS served as an information base of the research. The analysis has allowed characterizing the modern structure of labor potential as a kind of “starter” state which largely determines future development prospects. Special attention is given to the formation, distribution and exploitation of labor potential qualitative characteristics which are assessed in the article on the basis of studies carried out by ISEDT RAS in eight municipal districts of the Vologda Oblast and the cities of Vologda and Cherepovets (sample size – 1,500 people of working age). The results of questionnaire databases’ processing with the use of a special technique help calculate physical and mental component summaries of the working age population, indices of cognitive potential, creativity, communication skills, cultural and moral levels, and the need for achievement. The study shows that the structure of labor potential and the tendencies of its reproduction in the Vologda Oblast municipal districts are extremely poor. Since 2000, working age population in half of the districts reduced by more than a quarter. There is no complete recovery and renewal of the functioning labor potential: contracted reproduction is observed. The peculiarity of labor potential reproduction in the Vologda Oblast municipal districts is a substantial differentiation based on age structure and rates of change working age population. This, along with the decline in labor potential, the reduction of creative potential and a significant gap between the actual level of development of the qualities of working age population and job requirements become the main issues of labor potential reproduction

Keywords

• labor potential
• reproduction
• formation
• distribution
• exploitation
• municipal district