Managing Uzbek labor migration

Uzbekistan has been gradually integrating into the world economy since gaining its independence back in 1991. The need to integrate stems from the desire to advance the national economy and social well-being of population through importing advanced technologies or stimulating exports. However, opening up the country also meant exposure to increase in the mobility of its human capital. As a result, Uzbekistan has witnessed labor migration in and out of the country in the past couple of decades, driven by various causes, which is having inevitable social and economic implications for the country. Migration has particular implications for Uzbekistan mainly due to its state of demographic development. Three vital characteristics create a favorable condition for migration of labor from Uzbekistan: Population growth rate of 1,6% per annum Young population with 30% aged under 15 Low level of urbanization with 50% of population living in rural areas. International Organization of Migration predicted that under globalization and economic liberalization, international trade and improved investment climate would lead to increased migration flows. Highly developed countries would have a shortage of and less developed countries would have a surplus of labor force, which would lead to formation of global migrant labor force. Intensifying processes in contemporary international labor market make migration as a mechanism, which has a back-to-back impact onto and from economic development of a country. From developing countries’ perspective, international labor migration is an instrument for reducing tension in national labor markets, decreasing high rates of unemployment and expanding sources of income. From developed countries’ perspective, international labor migration helps solve demographic problems like decreasing number of population, aging of population and shortage of labor force. Thus, this processes turned into a mechanism or a system, which is not possible to ignore. Uzbekistan, in particular, is increasing its participation in the international labor market due to its high rates of population growth and young population