SEMIGRA – Selective Migration and Unbalanced Sex Ratio in Rural Regions
Territorial potentials and cooperation for growth and
jobs in rural regions
Results of the ESPON SEMIGRA project
Aalborg, June 13th 2012
Karin Wiest, IfL
Case study regions
Kainuu (FI)
Västernorrlands län (SE)
Sachsen-Anhalt (DE)
Észak-Magyarország (HU)
Észak-Alföld (HU)
Is there a link between labour market structures and unbalanced sex ratios?
Relevance: Out-migration of young women and regional development
Restructuring of rural economies:
Decline in
agricultural employment;
Deindustrialisation
Reduced
employment
opportunities
Reduced demand;
Endangerment
of social cohesion
Life-style preferences;
Infrastructural deficits
Outmigration
of young people/
young women
Deterioration of sex- and
age-structure
Depopulation
Source: Own design based on Boyle et al. (1998)
Reduced rate of natural increase
The Approach of SEMIGRA:
Multi-level/place-based
Statistical Analyses
-
multi-method
Expert interviews
-
Survey with pupils –
standardized
questionnaire
EU level
Evaluation of the shortage
National level
of young women from an
Inner regional differences: expert point of view
-Demographic indicators
-Labour market structures
-Educational structures
Differences between girls
and boys :
-Evaluation of the home
region
-Future plans
-Intentions to migrate
-Living situation
NUTS2/NUTS3
Age group 15-18 years
Different school types
Fields:
-Labour market
-Planning and policy
-Education and social
infrastructure
(between 8 and 19
interviews per case study
region)
(115 to 740 replies per
case study region)
the life cycle
Interviews with young
women
Biographical aspects;
individual perception of
migration decicions
Age group 25-35 years:
-Stayer and potential
migrants
-Out-migrants
-In-and re-migrants
(9-23 interviews per case
study region)
Notional territorial potentials (SWOT) - Evaluation case study regions
Labour market
Educational structures
diversified, knowledge-based,
female-friendly
Tradition of (female)
entrepreneurship
Regional universities as focal points
(with “female” studies)
- All regions
- Kainuu
Gender-specific sharing Tradition of employed women and
mothers
of roles
+ All regions (HU conditionally)
Image (external/internal) “Beautiful landscape”, “nature”,
- Sachsen-Anhalt
“healthy”,
Housing situation
Cheap housing prices
All regions
Attractive sociocultural facilities
Cultural and social
activities (for the youth)
- All regions
Social infrastructure (for Dense net and good quality (e.g.
child care, schools)
women, families)
+ Sachsen-Anhalt
Demographic framework Relatively high birth rates,
Relatively young age structure
conditions
+ Västernorrland
+ Észak-Alföld, Észak-Magyarország
- Sachsen-Anhalt
Cohesion and competition oriented scenarios for rural regions
Negative state
Shrinking (female)
participation,
labour
Driving forces
force
Job cuts, no innovation, ICT not
widespread
Economy,
technical and social
innovation
“competition oriented
scenario”
Positive state
Growing (female)
participation,
labor
force
New jobs of in the knowledgebased and service economy
New technology and innovation,
rising use of ICT
Policy
Cuts in public services, retreat of the
state
(female and family friendly)
Family-friendly welfare policy
cohesion policy focusing on
urban-rural relations
“Cohesion oriented
scenario”
Brain drain
Population decrease, low fertility, no
in- and remigration, pronounced
aging, female outmigration
Effects on
demography/female
migration
Brain gain
Stable or increasing population,
(female) in- and remigration, higher
fertility, reduced aging
Possible strategies to deal with age- and sex-specific migration in
rural areas:
1. Basic demographic strategies that aim at preventing OUT-migration and
promoting IN- and RE-migration
2. Strategies that focus on specific target groups according to the gender and
the life cycle
3. Strategies that target different fields of action (labour market, infrastructure,
regional image etc.)
 Place-based approach: Different strategies for different regions in Europe
Living Situation of Women is different 
different Needs – different Actors – different Cooperations
Age Group
< 18 years
Cooperations between:
Universities-Schools
Enterprises- Schools
Parents, teachers
Associations, local clubs
Age Group
18- 29
years
Age Group
30-35 years
Social networks
Educational policies (e.g.
Universities)
Local enterprises,
Municipalities (child care)
National labor market
policy
Different fields of action – different levels of implementation
Strategies
Labour market
Awareness of local job opportunities
Develop diversified economic structure
(“New rurality”),
Foster a female friendly labour market
Education
Social
infrastructure
Universities as drivers for innovation,
knowledge and creative economies,
Child care facilities and schools
Support local clubs and associations
Campaign has to consider different
target groups,
Female role models
Image /
Identification
Communication
technologies,
Accessibility
Level of
implementation
Enterprises, schools
Labour market policy
Educational policy
Municipalities
Civic commitment
Regional/communal
policy
Improve technical infrastructure
National policy
and
skills to make use of these technologies
Forces for Loss
Urban-rural
Access
differences
Place attachment
Cultural strength
Labour force participation
Social network density
Civic engagement
Educational achievement
Wealth accumulation
Forces for Stabilization
/Growth
Selective
migration by age
and lifestyle
Source: Redlin et. al 2010
Economic
restructuring
and inequality
Weak social
networks
Wage
differential
Potentials for growth in rural areas? Lessons from SEMIGRA
 take into account gender issues and different age groups to
amend tailor-made strategies with regard to key target groups.
 rely on local knowledge; take the specific needs of young women and men into
account
Promote an integrated cross-sectional approach with regard to gender issues