Motives for migrating among youth in Russian Arctic industrial cities

Young people are widely acknowledged to be the innovative force in a nation’s population, the most creative, mobile and willing to take risks to achieve their goals. Due to the strategic importance of the Arctic for the Russian Federation, it is generally recognized by authorities that this region should not lag behind with regard to the latest developments in terms of economy, technology and innovation. However, the proportion of youth in the Russian Arctic is significantly lower than in the rest of the country, prompting a need to study the reasons for such an imbalance and to identify potentially attractive avenues for young people to make their living in Arctic cities. This chapter deals with the perceptions of youth living in the Arctic as these are reflected in their perspectives, general motivations, attitudes and values regarding living, studying and working in their hometowns. Using three case cities from three different Arctic Russian regions, we studied the relation between an expressed interest in migration and notions of wellbeing among Arctic urban youth. The results show that it is not only the economic, but also the social conditions of life in the Arctic that are important for young people. We investigate whether the economic diversification that many Arctic industrial towns aim for has made them more attractive as arenas for youth to unlock their potential for development and wellbeing. We identify the readiness among active Arctic youth to accept the challenges of building a prosperous life there, which is essential if upcoming reforms in the Russian Arctic are to be implemented.