THE IMPACT OF OWNING FEMALE IDPS IN DEMAND IN THE LOCAL MARKET SPECIALTIES AND SKILLS ON THEIR EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE

Abstract

Purpose. Nowadays the issue of employment of internally displaced women is becoming more and more relevant all over the world. In particular, in Ukraine, in the conditions of a full-scale war, the number of internally displaced women is increasing every day, and the possibility of finding a job for them on the local labor market is becoming more difficult. The main reasons for this are: the decrease in the potential of the labor market due to the destruction of production capacities and infrastructure, the increase in the level of unemployment, rising competition, the relocation of many businesses abroad, the change in the structure of the labor market, as well as in the structure of job offers. Under such conditions, IDP-women’s awareness that their specialty, skills, and competencies are in demand on the local labor market has a positive effect on their emotional and psychological state and increases the chances of their employment. The purpose of this study is to find out the level of influence availability of specialties and skills in demand in the local labor market by IDP-women on their emotional and psychological state in war conditions. Design/methodology/approach. To achieve the purpose, the methods of statistical analysis were used in the research. On the basis of the conducted analysis, the assumption that IDP-women who consider their specialty and work experience relevant to the local labor market, adapt more easily to new living conditions, have a positive emotional state and do not need psychological support was verified. These women also have other skills and abilities that are also in demand in the local labor market. IDP-women who believe that their other skills and abilities are not in demand in the local labor market need retraining and consider it important. The research is based on a sociological survey conducted by the authors with the Public Organization “Center for Women’s Perspectives” as part of the project “Advocacy Support of Internally Displaced Women in the Western Regions of Ukraine” with the financial support of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund of the United Nations. The survey of women was carried out by the questionnaire method in four regions of Ukraine: Ternopil, Rivne, Lviv and Khmelnytskyi. The sampling error does not exceed 3 % with a probability of 0.95. The sample population was calculated from the general population of 3,475 registered internally displaced women by September 2022. Findings. It was found that the emotional and psychological state of IDP-women is influenced to a greater extent by other factors than the presence of a specialty and work experience, which are relevant for the local labor market. The study identified the main barriers to the employment of internally displaced women. The hypothesis that the presence of a specialty and work experience in a specialty is sufficient for employment and a positive psychological state of IDP women has been rejected. Other factors can have a greater influence on employment and the emotional and psychological state of IDP-women, in particular, the desire to integrate into the local business environment, connection with part of the family or relatives, adaptation to new living conditions, loss of the previous source of income, uncertainty about further events, especially if the war is still ongoing and there is a direct threat to life. The hypothesis that IDP-women who consider their specialty and work experience relevant to the local labor market also have other skills and abilities that are also in demand on the local labor market was confirmed. Practical implications. The results of the research will be useful to public organizations, local selfgovernment bodies and other interested parties involved in assisting internally displaced persons. Originality/value. The specifics of the IDP-women are analyzed, the relationship between the main groups of factors that influence their employment of is established in the article. Barriers faced by IDP-women in searching for employment were analyzed.