Every second Russian is ready to move to another Russian city in favor of a well-paid job.
MOSCOW, December 21, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey devoted to the circumstances under which Russians are ready to move to another region of Russia, as well as barriers to do that.
As a quarter of a century ago, the basic reason that makes Russians change their job is the size of salary: today 48% of respondents (40% in 1990) say that they would opt for a job in another region if they were offered a higher salary.
A strong argument in favor of relocation is getting a comfortable housing (42% and 38%, respectively). At the same time, the basic obstacle that hampers moving to another region is housing-related problems, though the importance of this factor has decreased over the recent twenty-five years (56% in 2015; 75% in 1990).
Every fifth (22%) would accept a job offer, if other family member were also hired; every third (33%) believes that this factor impedes people relocating (from 19% in 1990). Every sixth (16%) would agree to change a job if there were an opportunity to return to the previous position. Such factor as a “reserved housing” that was important during the Soviet times does not play a crucial role: it was mentioned by 17% of respondents in 2015 (from 34% in 1990). Simultaneously, the share of those who are not ready to accept working in another Russian city or rural area under any circumstances has increased (from 23% to 30%).
Among arguments that retain Russians from relocating are lack of information about vacancies (19%). Registration procedures and passport control are also obstacles for certain Russians, though the share of them has decreased from 31% to 15%. Besides that, people are also afraid of cold welcome in a new place (18%), and differences in languages and traditions (16%).
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted June 27-28, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
If you were offered a job in another region of Russia, under what circumstances would you accept this proposal? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, %) | ||
| 1990 * | 2015 |
Higher salary | 40 | 48 |
Comfortable housing is offered | 38 | 42 |
Other family member are also employed | 21 | 22 |
Possibility to return to the precious housing (housing reservation) | 34 | 17 |
Possibility to return to the precious job | 16 | 16 |
I will not accept it by any means | 23 | 30 |
Other | 1 | 1 |
Don’t know | 11 | 7 |
*In 1990, the survey involved national urban and rural populations aged 16 and over; the sample size was 1537 persons.
In your opinion, what is the main obstacle for people to move to another region to work? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, %) | ||
| 1990 * | 2015 |
Housing problems | 75 | 56 |
Failure to find job for every member of the family | 19 | 33 |
Lack of information about the job offers | 13 | 19 |
Negative attitudes of the authorities towards strangers | 12 | 18 |
Differences in languages and traditions | 13 | 16 |
Passport regulations; registration procedures | 31 | 15 |
Political tensions | 21 | 15 |
Nothing | 4 | 16 |
Other | 1 | 4 |
Don’t know | 10 | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.