Ukrainian labour migration in the czech republic

Abstract

Our paper sheds the new light on the existence of structural channels in pushing Ukrainian migration along occupational lines to the Czech Republic. We argue that the integration of the Czech and Ukrainian construction sectors has generated international „channels‟ that enhance the process of labour migration from Ukraine to the Czech Republic. Our novel analysis is based on a unique dataset obtained via questionnaire surveys in Zakarpat‟ye region of Ukraine and multivariate models linking prior work experience in the Ukrainian construction sector and the likelihood of working in the Czech construction sector, net of other theoretically important controls. Thence, we test whether prior work experience in the Ukrainian construction sector increases the probability of obtaining a job in the Czech construction sector. The results provide strong empirical support for the “channelling” hypothesis by showing that integration of the Czech and Ukrainian construction sectors has created international “structural channels” along which migration from Ukraine to the Czech Republic moves.