the professional activity of the inhabitants of villages and small towns of podlaskie province

The professional activity of the inhabitants of villages and small towns of Podlaskie

province

Research methodologyDesk Research

Preparation of research findings in the form of a summary report

Quantitative research:Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) conducted among 435 people living in villages and small towns in Podlaskie province.

Qualitative research:Individual in-depth interviews (IDI) with public institutions in the county (PUP) and in the region (VLO) and non-governmental organizations. Focus group interviews (FGI) conducted in rural areas and small towns in Podlaskie province.

A panel of experts conducted among representatives of public institutions at the regional level (VLO) and county level (PUP), NGOs and residents of rural areas and small towns in Podlaskie province.

Main conclusions:1. Podlasie Province has one of the lowest levels of economic development and

industrialization in comparison to other Polish regions.

2. Typical agricultural region with varying potential and managing conditions between particular poviats and municipalities.

3. The low share of industry in gross added value.

4. The industrial structure is dominated by the production and processing of agricultural raw materials.

5. A small investment attractiveness of the region (low GDP, a small market capacity, low level of urbanization and the development of infrastructure, weak industrial production and competitive workforce).

RESEARCH FINDINGSDESK RESEARCH

DESK RESEARCH6. Noticeable process of "depopulation" of rural areas.

7. Strong territorial differentiation of population density (average population density below the national average).

8. The unemployment rate higher than in the country (in 2012, the highest in the following poviats: Grajewo and Sejny).

9. The professional activity of the region's population at the level of the national average.

10. Almost half of all companies registered in the REGON database concentrated in three sectors: trade and repair of motor vehicles, construction and manufacturing.

11. Strong territorial diversification of economic activity, with the concentration of the entities in the Bialystok subregion.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

Sources of earning1. Dependence of the labour market on seasonal work (more jobs in the spring and summer).

2. The main source of income of rural residents: income from agriculture, trips abroad for seasonal work, seasonal work in construction, agricultural subsidies.

RESEARCH FINDINGSQualitative research

Main conclusions:

Mobility1. People living in rural areas are less mobile than the ones of the cities.

2. Greater mobility is among young people (for example, they often make decisions about going to bigger cities).

3. Neighbouring centres, particularly in large cities, play a significant role in stimulating economic activity of inhabitants of villages and small towns (natural directions of migration for work).

Reasons for economic inactivity 1. The main reason for inactivity of inhabitants of villages and small towns include other economic

benefits achieved than hired employment and subsidies for farm management.

2. The threat to the activation of the unemployed is the fact that the Labour Offices pay health insurance.


Barriers in taking up professional activity 1. The main problem in the region, contributing to the low professional activity, is the lack of jobs.

2. The barriers in making professional activity include also: lack of access to the workplace: lack of public transport, or high travel costs that exceed the

income from work; lack of appropriate education and vocational training.

Availability and interest in education

1. Funding from the European Union makes a number of possibilities for the organization of different types of training.

2. Despite having access and educational offer, those who are willing to participate in organized training are missing (thematic training mismatch).

3. Residents of small towns do not believe they will find employment after the training, so they are more and more reluctant to improve their skills.


Structure of respondents by place of residence - subregion (N=435)

RESEARCH FINDINGSQuantitative research

Suwalski subregion

Bialystok subregion

Lomza subregion

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0

26.4

36.3

37.3

Structure of respondents by age and gender (N=434)


18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0

12.7

8.4

13.1

23.2

42.6

14.2

5.6

19.8

27.4

33.0

Woman Man

Structure of respondents by education and gender (N=434)


Basic

Junior High School

Vocational

General secondary

Secondary vocational

Post-Secondary

Bachelor

Higher professional - engineer

Higher master

Scientific degrees (dr) and title

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0

16.5

1.3

11.4

10.6

40.9

0.0

2.5

5.5

10.5

0.8

16.7

1.5

11.7

17.3

31.5

1.0

6.1

3.5

10.7

0.0

Woman Man

The period of residence in a particular town (N=435)


I do not remember

To 10 years

11-20 years

More than 30 years

21-30 years

From birth

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0

0.5

7.8

9.7

10.8

11.2

60.0

The reasons for residence in a particular town (N=435)


Access to health care

Access to the offer and educational centers and / or trainings

Prospects for the development of the village / community

Low crime

Friends

Financial reasons

Other

Good living conditions

Professional reasons

Housing reasons

Family

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0

0.2

0.2

0.5

0.5

4.6

5.5

7.1

7.8

26.0

33.8

86.0

Assessment of the likelihood of finding a job

Assessment of the likelihood of finding a jobVery easy

Rather

easily

It is rather difficul

t

It is very

difficult

Impossible

It is difficult to say

% % % % % %In your town 0,7 2,3 10,8 29,7 50,3 6,2In neighbouring rural towns 0,5 2,1 11,0 34,7 44,6 7,1In neighbouring cities 0,4 3,5 16,8 36,4 33,9 9,0In the municipality 0,2 4,4 22,6 39,4 22,6 10,8Outside the municipality, in the poviat 0,7 5,7 29,7 33,6 12,6 17,7Outside the poviat, in the province 0,9 14,6 28,3 22,5 6,3 27,4Outside the province 4,7 23,6 5,7 2,8 3,8 59,4


Structure of respondents according to the degree of professional statute, including gender (N=435)*


* The sum of the indications is greater than 100% because it was possible to give more than one answer.

I am a pupil /a student

I'm unemployed

I am employed

I run economic activities

I run agricultural activities

I work (additionally) on early retirement

I'm on early retirement and do not work

I'm on a pension

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0

13.4

5.5

18.1

5.0

38.2

1.3

12.6

12.6

9.6

7.6

19.8

5.1

31.5

0.5

16.2

14.2

Woman Man

The sector in which the inhabitants of villages and small towns take employment, by gender (N=239)


Government (including local government)

Private (company, one-person operations, agricultural activities)

Social (eg cooperatives)

NGO (foundations, associations, unions, etc.)

0.0 10.020.030.040.050.060.070.080.090.0

17.7

81.6

0.7

0.0

29.1

70.9

0.0

0.0

Woman Man

Location of companies in which residents of rural areas and small towns are employed (N=240)


In my village

I commute to work in a neighbouring village in the same municipality (up to 20 km)

I commute to work in the village in the same municipality over 20 km away from the place of residence

I work in another municipality

I work in a different poviat

I work in a different province

Not applicable (farm owners, the unemployed)

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0

52.5

8.7

1.5

2.2

1.5

5.1

28.5

51.4

13.6

2.9

0.0

1.0

3.9

27.2

Woman Man

Reasons for termination of employment in the previous job (N=115)*



Economic conditions

Change of place of residence

Termination of employment agreement by employer

Expiry of internship, for a limited time

Liquidation of workplace

Retirement

Deterioration of health

The desire to improve financial conditions

Other

The desire to improve working conditions

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

3.5

5.2

6.1

8.7

12.2

13.0

14.8

16.5

17.4

22.6

Sources of livelihood of the respondents in the past 12 months (N=435)*



State dependent

Assistance of family, friends

Contract work outside agriculture, which is seasonal

Other

Independent business

Not applicable

Contract work outside agriculture, which is not seasonal

Pension / retirement

Farm labour

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0

0.7

1.4

1.6

2.8

4.6

15.7

18.7

24.0

37.6

The main source of income for the inhabitants of villages and small towns (N=435)


Benefit from social welfare centers

Grants, subsidies (EU, national)

Benefit from the employment office

Other

Business

Pension / retirement

Contract work

Agricultural activity

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0

0.2

0.2

2.1

2.5

6.0

20.9

22.1

46.0

Willingness to work outside the place of residence (N=270)


Yes

No

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0

28.1

71.9

The reasons not to work outside the place of residence N %

very advanced age 58 38,7no need 33 22,0retirement 12 8,0health resons 12 8,0work in the place of residence 7 4,7farming 6 4,0pension, childcare 4 2,6lack of time, family reasons, it is difficult to say, the desire to work nearby 2 1,3

no reason, no commuting, it would be inconvenient, I do not look for job outside the place of residence, the household, lack of response 1 0,7Total 150 100,0

The reasons not to work outside the place of residence (N=150)*



Forms for improving / retraining, which were used by the respondents in the last 2-3 years (N=435)*



Paid educational offer

Free educational offer

Paid training / courses

Free courses / training

I did not improve my qualifications in the last 2-3 years

0.0 10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

0.2

0.9

8.3

14.7

78.2

Reasons for not improving professional qualifications N %

no need 147 52,7age 42 15,1

lack of time 18 6,5no offers 17 6,1difficult to say 15 5,4health 11 3,9lack of possibility 9 3,2in the process of learning 6 2,2no response 3 1,1no reason, lack of information, pension 2 0,6lack of funds, lack of motivation, lack of prospects, working on the farm, raising children 1 0,4Total 279 100,0

Reasons for not improving professional qualifications in the last 2-3 years (N=279)*



Plans for raising qualifications / re-training by gender of respondents (N=435)*



Free courses / training

Paid training / courses

Free educational offer

Paid educational offer

I'm not going to raise / change my qualifications

It is difficult to say

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0

6.7

4.6

0.4

1.3

44.5

44.1

11.7

3.0

2.5

1.5

48.2

35.0

Woman Man

The use of available forms of co-financing from national or EU funds by gender of respondents (N=435)


Yes, I benefit

No, I do not benefit

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0

33.2

66.8

27.9

72.1

Woman Man

Allocation of the funds received (N=134)


Starting a business

Improving quality of life

Afforestation

Gaining additional qualifications

Other

Purchase of tools, equipment, machinery needed to work

Farming development

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0

0.7

4.5

6.0

7.5

17.9

29.1

76.9

Assessment of the conditions and standards of living in the municipality in the last 2-3 years, by gender of respondents (N=435)


Improved

Not changed

Deteriorated

I do not know, it's hard to say

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0

25.6

37.0

30.3

7.1

30.5

40.1

22.8

6.6

Woman Man

Factors supporting the development of the municipality (N=433)*



Other

Active inhabitants

I do not know, it's hard to say

Vibrant municipal government

Financial support from outside the municipality (EU funds)

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0

0.9

13.2

24.5

30.3

70.4

Conclusions and recommendations CONCLUSION 1 - "The development of agriculture and the creation of the multifunctional rural development" is defined as a target seven of the previously existing " Podlasie voivodship development strategy until 2020 ". In the new Strategy, adopted in September 2013, the agriculture and rural areas have been treated together as strategic intervention areas where specific activities and forms of support should be tailored to the individual potentials and opportunities of the area.

Recommendations:

1. Multifunctional rural development requires a comprehensive approach to integrate many features that make up the concept of "rural life".

2. New strategic documents and development programs must skillfully combine and support the development of infrastructure in the villages and small towns, productive investments and investments in human capital, the use of environmental values, based on the endogenous potentials of the area.

Conclusions and recommendations

CONCLUSION 2 - Investment attractiveness and development of rural areas and small towns in the region will not improve without significant public and private funds in a substantial improvement of technical infrastructure.

Recommendation:

It is a essential to increase the level of funding in these areas in road infrastructure to improve transport accessibility, telecommunication, gasification of the region and to provide water and sewage system. These actions will result in a significant increase of employment at the local level.


CONCLUSION 3 - The economy of the region of Podlasie is focused mainly on agriculture and agri-food industry. These sectors require appropriate institutional and financial support.

Recommendation:

A stronger emphasis on the Strategy's execution documents (regional and local development programs) concerning problems of development of multifunctional agriculture and rural development.

Conclusions and recommendationsCONCLUSION 4 - For the majority of areas of the region, agriculture and processing of crops will be the core business in the future. At the same time, agriculture can be developed only with the expansion of opportunities for additional income outside agriculture and improving access to infrastructure and social and living services.

Recommendations:

1. It is necessary to support the development of multifunctional and local processing of corps and forestry products, agricultural services units, fine crafts, agro-tourism, etc.

2. It is advised to support the urban population of the rural areas in making operational activity associated with agriculture and forestry, which will increase jobs in their area.

Conclusions and recommendationsCONCLUSION 5 - Reasons for disparities between sub-regions of Podlaskie province have their source in the diversity of structures and economic development resources, they imply future factors and trends change. The diversity of the region requires individual search paths for development of different territorial units (poviats and municipalities).

Recommendation:

Prior to the creation of new programs and development strategies targeted for specific areas, it would be essential to make a full inventory of the reasons and consequences of territorial disparities. Visions of the development of particular regions should, as far as possible, take into account these differences.


CONCLUSION 6 - Territorial variation in distribution of human potential is the inevitable fact, limiting its impact on disparities in labour supply and demand requires deep economic segmentation and social policy.

Recommendations:

1. Reducing development disparities between the various sub-regions, poviats and municipalities.

2. A clear action to improve the vitality of rural areas in close cooperation with a potential of surrounding towns.

Conclusions and recommendationsCONCLUSION 7 - The process of aging takes place in the region of Podlasie more intensely than the national average. Its continuation lead in the near future to the lack of supply of labour, especially in rural areas.

Recommendations:

1. It is necessary to intensify efforts to maintain the active state of professional activity and to provide employment to the current working age population.

2. Taking effective measures to ensure jobs to the young generation.

Conclusions and recommendationsCONCLUSION 8 - A common cause of low economic activity of rural residents is the lack of sufficient knowledge of the possibility of obtaining external support, including financing of production investment.

Recommendations:

1. Construction of an effective system of counseling, facilitating rational and efficient use of various sources of aid, loans.

2. Coordinating and strengthening the activities of the institutions and organizations that can help farmers and other rural entrepreneurs to make decisions and run their activities (especially non-agricultural activities).

Conclusions and recommendationsCONCLUSION 9 - A major threat to the future development of agriculture and rural areas is the outflow of population from these areas. It is caused by many factors, mainly lower quality of life than in urban area and the lack of employment and development.

Recommendations:

1. It is necessary to invest in human capital and the conditions for its development. In particular, it is urgent to build broad access to:

- public transport and transport infrastructure- education,- health,

- living and financial services.

2. Package of measures to raise the quality of human capital should be individual and dedicated to individual local communities, as well as tailored to their needs, expectations and opportunities.


CONLCUSION 10 - The population of rural areas is not very active socially. Many regions are missing local authorities involvement in efforts to socio-economic development.

Recommendation:

Taking effective measures to stimulate social activity.

Conclusions and recommendationsCONLCUSION 11 - The barriers, especially in taking up economic activity, for residents of villages and small towns often include a lack of knowledge and expertise in this field, as well as the fear of failure.

Recommendations:

1. Creating the conditions for economic development, in particular in areas with low entrepreneurship.

2. Stimulation of social activity for the development of entrepreneurship and new initiatives.


CONLCUSION 12 - A common problem is a mismatch of the educational offer with the needs and expectations of both the unemployed, as well as local labour markets. This results in low commitment and aversion to the educational activity.

Recommendation:

Performing a full diagnosis of training needs, both from the point of view of local labour markets, as well as the unemployed.

Thank you for your attention

the professional activity of the inhabitants of villages and small towns of podlaskie province

Documents

professional activity

residents of rural areas

small market capacity

rural residents

inhabitants of villages

seasonal work

economic inactivity

region vlo