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Section 2. Geography
Yuldashev Nurbek Normuradovich, Junior researcher, Research center «Scientific bases and issues of development economy of Uzbekistan» under the Tashkent State University of economics E-mail: nurbek.yuldashev1979@mail.ru
Regional structure and density of labour resources in Uzbekistan
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to present the regional location and density of population and labour resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan. More precisely, the article provides evaluations on the density of labour resources. The urban and rural location patterns of labour resources have been analyzed in the example of viloyats (regional provinces). Although, the statistical data from pre-independence period has been used in the article, main attention was directed at the period after 1991. Also, there is an effort to provide the analysis of the mutual effects between the formation of labour resources and demographic trends in recent years.
Keywords: Population, labour resources, regional structure of labour resources, density of population, growth rate of population, "demographic echo", migration, the most active part of population.
It is a well-known fact that the reproduction of labour resources depends chiefly on demographic processes. A key role in the formation of labour resources is played by the growth and location patterns of labour resources, which are manifested through the total number of population, its growth rate, the difference in sex composition and the natural increase in population. But, at the same time, the impact of social and mechanical movement on the formation of labour resources should not be overlooked. Thus, birth, death, and the migration cause the change in age-sex structure and, as a result, determine the dynamics of labour resources. When researching the number, growth, composition, location and other indicators of labour resources, one must realize that they (labour resources), in the first place, are part of the population. Therefore, one should, first of all, research the population growth rate. In this regard, Uzbekistan stands out in CIS as a region with specific characteristics [2, 21].
According to the statistical data, the growth of population in the country accelerated in the second of the twentieth century. However, the process of decreasing birth rates which was taking place in all parts of the world could be observed in our republic as well. As a consequence, such changes in demographic processes were reflected in the growth rate of the total population. Thus, if it was 14.3 % between 1970 and 1979, then in the years 1989 through 2002 it shrank 1.5 times and became 9.1 %. Nevertheless, the birth rate of the population of our country has started to rise again since 2001-2002. This has been caused mainly by the increase in the number women of childbearing age; the decrease in the number of deaths, especially a sharp reduction in the number of deaths of mothers and infants under age 1; and the development of modern methods of medical services to the population. To be even more exact, the birth rate in the country is increasing thanks to the 1970s and 1980s generation who have been starting families and started having children. For it is a widely known fact that during that period the population of country was mainly made up of big families with 5 or more children. That is, such increase in birth rate was a result of something of a "demographic echo".
Increase in birth rate can be observed in all parts of the country, but some regions stand out as they have higher birth rate than the national average (23.5 %). Kashkadarya (25.6 %) and Surkhandarya (25.7 %) are good examples of such regions. At the same time, the city of Tashkent (17.9 %), Tashkent region, Bukhara and Navoi regions have the lowest birth rate in the country [13].
A significant role in the change of number of population is played not only by its natural movement but also by its mechanical movement. As we all know, migration is a movement of people from one place to another because of the change in their permanent or temporary residence and jobs. As a result of migration we can observe the change in the number and composition of population, as well as the change in the formation of labour resources.
The flow of migration affects both the production potential of the regions and accumulation of the population in one region or another. For, such accumulation of population causes the increase in population density and this process is certainly comes as a result of the mechanical movements [1, 36].
In the beginning of 2016 the population density in the republic is 70 people per sq. km., but that number differs from region to region. For example, if in Andijan it is 650 people per sq.km, then in Navoi region it is a mere 8 people per sq. km.
The big difference between the lower and higher ends of population density of our country gives us a chance to study the population density by diving it into several groups. Thus, the regions with the population density of up to 20-25 people per sq.km, such as Republic of Karakalpakstan and Navoi region should be researched separately and the regions with population density of 200 or more people per sq. km. (Andijan, Khorezm, Fergana, Namangan) should be studied with special attention. However, if we want to have an even more detailed analysis of population density, we can use the method recommended by Tadjiyeva Z. N., the prominent scientist in demography, who divided the regions into 5 groups when studying the population density [13, 70].
Above-mentioned division of regions is also very important in determining the socio-economic situation and development of those
Section 2. Geography
regions. The increase in the number and density of population leads to the shrinking of land and especially irrigated land per capita. Furthermore, it creates such problems as providing the population with housing and creating jobs for those people. When looking at the issue from this angle, it is utterly important to analyze the formation and growth of labour resources in certain regions. Because as it was stated many times, Uzbekistan is a country with a high rate of formation of labour resources (table 1). In our opinion, the growing rate of this category of population in the years of independence should be studied by diving it into following time periods: 1991-1996, 1996-2001, 2001-2006, 2006-2010 and 2010-2015. Ifthe total number ofnewly formed labour resources was 1,162,000 at the end of the first period, or in other words 232,000 per year, then the growth during the second period was 288,000 people per year; during the third period — 399,000 people per year. After this, the growth rate started to fall and the labour resources were joined by 382,000 people per year during the fourth period and 310,000 people per year during the fifth period. Such increase in the number of labour resources is happening, first of all, due to the change in its demographic base.
Table 1. - Dynamics of growth of the labour resources in the years of independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan (in thou. people)
Years 1991 1996 2001 2006 2010 2015
Labour resources 10 213 113756 12 817 14 817 16 726 18 277
* The table was prepared by the author based on the data of the State statistics committee.
Additionally, the increase in the people who are not part ofable-bodied population but still want to act as regular labour resources also affecting the number of labour resources in general. However, the fact that the lowest level of birth rate in the country was in the years 2000-2001 (at this period the annual number of births was around 500,000, which is the lowest number in the years of independence. In 2015, for example, that number reached 718,000 [6.4]) was the main reason for the decline in the number of labour resources at the end of the fifth period. That is, the current level of birth rate serves as the primary base for the labour resources that will be formed after 15-16 years.
The structure of regional labour resources and the changes that are occurring in them vary significantly from region to region. That 14
happens due to the level of natural-climatic and socio-economic development of those regions. Furthermore, the size of the territorial units of the country (just like population density) affects the location and density of labour resource in a special way. For instance, the average density of labour resources in the country is 40 people per sq. km. but in a small Andijan region this number is over 370. On the other hand, because of its big size Navoi region has a labour resources density of only 5 people per sq.km. Labour resources of certain area and the level of job supply affect indirectly their dynamics of growth. For example, if in the first years of independence Tashkent accounted for 13 % of all labour resources in the country, today that number dropped to 9 % (fig. 1). This was the result of 1) earlier formation of urban lifestyle in this region and a serious drop in birth rate, 2) limitations on the building of major production facilities in the city and also the termination of registration of labour resources that come to the city from other regions of the country. Similar situation could be observed in Navoi, Sirdarya and Republic of Karakalpakstan where there is a downward tendency. In such regions as Fergana, Samarkand, Andijan and Kashkadarya one can see a different, upward movement, where the share of total labour resources is growing. This is especially true for Kashkadarya, which saw a biggest growth of1.4 points. The shares of such regions as Samarkand (0.9 points) and Namangan (0.8 points) have also been growing.
If we pay a closer attention to the regional (urban, rural) proportions of labour resources, then we can see that out of total 18,227,000 labour resources almost 55 % live in the cities, as opposed to 45 % that reside in rural areas. However, until recently, for example in 2001, only 40 % of all labour resources lived and worked in urban areas. The reasons for such transformations are the following: governmental decree on the changing status of urban and rural inhabited areas; the desire of workers, who make up a major part of labour resources, to move to jobs that are in cities; moving closer to the workplace (and to consumers) because of the rise in transportation costs.
Additionally, in recent years the formation and development of various branches of production has been going at a greater pace in cities than in rural areas. Nevertheless, the introduction of industry to the villages and a rapid development of social infrastructure in rural areas could cause a normalization of proportions in regional location of labour resources.
Fig. 1. Changes in the regional structure of labour resources in Uzbekistan (At the beginning of the year, in percent)
* The figure was prepared by the author based on the data of the State statistics committee.
By paying a closer attention to the situation of regional location of labour resources in regions, one can study them by dividing them into two groups. In the first group we have regions with more labour resource located in cities than in rural areas (table 2).
For instance, in Namangan, 67 % of labour resources live and work in the cities and only 33 % does the same in villages. Similarly, Andijan, Fergana, Navoi, Jizzakh regions are also considered as places with more urban labour resources. Khorezm, on the other hand, is a region that has more rural labour resources — 63 % of la-
bour resources there live in rural areas. We can also add Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Sirdarya and Kashkadarya regions to this group.
As a conclusion, we would like to note that the annual growth of labour resources in our country is 400,000 people that constitute 1.3 % of total population or 2.2 % of total number of labour resources. The existing demographic pace allows us to believe that the above-mentioned rate will not change in the near future. Because, the main cause of the growth of labour resource in our country is demographic processes.
Table 2. - Regional structure of labour resources (in percent)
№ Regions Urban labour resources Rural labour resources
1. Andijan 55 45
2. Bukhara 41 59
3. Fergana 61 39
4. Jizzakh 52 48
5. Republic of Karakalpakstan 51 49
6. Kashkadarya 47 53
7. Khorezm 37 63
8. Namangan 67 33
9. Navoi 55 45
10. Samarkand 40 60
11. Surkhandarya 40 60
12. Syrdarya 43 57
13. Tashkent 52 48
14. Tashkent city 100 -
15. Total of Uzbekistan 55 45
* The table was prepared by the author based on the data of the State statistics committee.
Regional location of labour resources, just as the general population, is distributed unevenly throughout the republic. Majority of labour resources that are being formed in regions are demonstrating a desire to work in cities. In the regions with densely populated with and rapid formation of labour resources the number of labour migrants is growing. The main participants of internal migration in our country are the able-bodied part of population; especially young people aged 18-29 (who are, economically, the
most active part of population). Their movement is directed toward big cities from densely populated areas. Today we a situation where both birth rate and the number of population is on the rise. And such situation requires that the local authorities deal with problems that come with the formation of labour resources, such as balancing of job creation and formation of labour resources. In order to handle these tasks several scientific proposals and recommendations need to be developed.
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