COVID-19 pandemic is a stimulus for sustainable development of rural areas and labor markets

¹ Saint Petersburg State Agrarian University, Saint Petersburg, Pushkin, Russia
² Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science “St. Petersburg Federal Research Center Russian Academy of Sciences “, Saint Petersburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: oleg1412@mail.ru

Abstract

Research background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges of maintaining the sustainability of urban agglomerations and provides a fresh look at the feasibility of developing rural areas and their labor markets. This situation stimulates the authorities, the population and business to pay attention to the benefits of the development of rural areas

Purpose of the article: The main goal of the presented article is assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the stimulus and opportunities for the sustainable development formulation of rural areas and its labor markets.

Methods: For research statistical materials and the results of scientific research by Russian and foreign scientists on the problems of the development of rural areas and their labor markets in the pre-covid period are used. The dynamics and dependence of the incidence of COVID-19 on the population's residence in rural and urban areas in certain regions of Russia, the growth in demand for suburban real estate, the problems of limiting migration during the development of the coronavirus pandemic and changes in labor markets that stimulate the relocation of the population to rural areas are investigated.

Findings & Value added: The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has created stimulus for the intensive development of rural areas, both on population of the countries and authorities. To maintain the positive trends, the state authorities is needed to invest in sustainable development infrastructure of rural areas, as well as the legislative consolidation of the rights and obligations of freelancers.