Adaptation Strategies of Migrant Workers from Ukraine during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Paweł Churski, Hanna Kroczak, Marta Łuczak, Olena Shelest-Szumilas and Marcin Woźniak
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Paweł Churski: Faculty of Human Geography and Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61-712 Poznań, Poland
Hanna Kroczak: Observatory of Economy and Labour Market of the Poznan Agglomeration, 61-727 Poznań, Poland
Marta Łuczak: Observatory of Economy and Labour Market of the Poznan Agglomeration, 61-727 Poznań, Poland
Olena Shelest-Szumilas: Department of Education and Personnel Development, Institute of Socio-Economics, Poznań University of Economics and Business, 61-875 Poznań, Poland
Marcin Woźniak: Faculty of Human Geography and Planning, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61-712 Poznań, Poland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-24

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching social and economic consequences. They are visible particularly in the functioning of local labour markets, affecting less privileged groups such as migrant workers, in a specific way. Here, our analysis aims to identify the strategies of adaptation of Ukrainian economic migrants to the changing situation in the local labour market in the Pozna? agglomeration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis relies on the results from quantitative research on changes in the demand for labour and adjustment of competence of immigrants to the Pozna? agglomeration labour market throughout the pandemic and in the perspective of the nearest future, as well as on qualitative research conducted using the IDI (in-depth interviews) technique, carried out via the purposive sampling of 30 economically active Ukrainian migrant workers. The identified adaptation strategies are organised according to the assumptions of Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of capital(s). The capital of the researched group with respect to the labour market is treated as both the potential and resources the immigrants offer, produce, apply, and mutually convert in the implementation of their own adaptation strategies to the changing situation of the labour market. We extracted eight types of migrant adaptation strategies with respect to the labour market. These strategies differ in terms of objectives, resources, time perspectives, and other factors considered to be important from migrants’ perspectives. On the basis of interviews, we were able to assess the robustness of these strategies in view of economic shocks and identify the process of capital conversion and exchange.

Keywords: local labour market; migrant workers; Pierre Bourdieu’s capital(s); adaptation strategies; COVID-19; Pozna? agglomeration; Poland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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