Domestic Labor Market Research Articles

LABOR MARKET IN UKRAINE: CURRENT STATE AND WAYS OF STABILIZATION

Introduction. The labor market is an important component of the country’s economic system, a kind of indicator of its state, as well as a reflection of the level of social development. Military actions on the territory of Ukraine, changes in the socio-economic situation necessary the development of a system of effective measures to stabilize the labor market in modern realities.
 The purpose of the article. The article aims is to research the current state of the labor market in Ukraine and to substantiate the ways of its stabilization.
 Results. General trends in the development of the domestic labor market in the pre-war period are determined. The main indicators characterizing the current state of the labor market are analyzed. The trends of their change during January-November 2022 are determined. Government initiatives that contributed to increasing the flexibility of the labor market, stimulating employment, and optimizing labor relations are considered. Two trends characteristic of the modern labor market are identified. In particular, the appearance of new vacancies in the western regions of Ukraine, which is the result of the relocation of business from the southern and eastern parts of the country and the increase in the number of unemployed in the front-line territories, as well as those where active hostilities are taking place. Possible ways of stabilizing the domestic labor market during martial law are substantiated. It is proposed to focus efforts on three areas: creation of favorable conditions for conducting business activities; ensuring the employment of the population and guaranteeing the appropriate level of wages; stabilization of the social and humanitarian situation and prevention of exacerbation of social tension in society.
 Conclusions. Today, the labor market of Ukraine are characterized by significant deformation, lack of parity between demand and supply, and a drop in the level of income of the population. Its stabilization is an extremely important task, given the emergence of various population groups affected by the armed conflict. In current realities, state regulation of the labor market is an important prerequisite for expanding employment opportunities and raising the standard of living standards of the population.

ON THE PECULIARITIES OF THE LABOR MARKET OF UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF WAR

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to analyze the state, problematic aspects and prospects of the functioning of the labor market of Ukraine in the conditions of a full-scale war. Current labor market has found itself in a unprecedented demanding operational environment since the beginning of a full-scale war and until nowadays. The reduction in the number of vacancies, partial or complete stoppage of individual business entities activity, low activity of whole economic sectors, changes in the population’s options and priorities, as well as active looking for ways of optimization of livelihoods by citizens collectively do not contribute to conservation and increasing of employment level at all. But it is determined that a number of important changes, which are able to provide a sound basis for supporting of activity on the labor market, were realized during 2022. Nowadays the situation remains complicated and imbalanced, but the majority of citizens understand the importance of professional activity as a method of supporting our country in the context of martial law. So, with the aim of monitoring of actual changes, which are realized in the domestic labor market, determination of its effectiveness in the context of the State and the people support, as well as formation the following management strategy of employment level in Ukraine need to maintain focus on described problematic. Accordingly, the article is devoted to the analysis of actual state, problem aspects and prospects of function of the labor market in Ukraine in the context of full-scale war. Comparison, methods of abstraction, analysis and generalization are the research methods which were used in the article. In this science paper the essence of the labor market as a system of labor relations, which become between employers and employees, as well as the complexity of organizing and regulation it’s in the context of war conditions were determined. The main trends, which that characterize the Ukrainian labor market during war were researched; the dynamic of employment level was analyzed. So, to sum up, the prospects of following development of labor market under conditions of updating the principles and vectors of post-war employment policy in Ukraine were summarized. Key words: labor market, labor relations, martial law, mobilization, human capital, employment level, activity on the labor market.

THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO THE ANALYSIS OF LABOR MARKETS COMPETITIVENESS UNDER INCREASING MIGRATION PROCESSES

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the content, structure and signifi cance of the labor market competitiveness in preserving the human potential of the national economy under conditions of instability. The research methods used include methods of fundamental economic science, comparative analysis, and a systemic approach. The main theoretical and conceptual approaches to understanding the essence and structural elements of the labor market competitiveness are systematized, and the author’s concept of the studied issue is developed. It is found that the structure of labor market competitiveness is shaped by economic parameters (competitiveness of labor force, jobs, labor performance, motivation, institutional support). In the sectoral aspect, it is possible to consider the competitiveness of the labor markets of individual industries and sectors of the economy. At the same time, the competitiveness of global, national, regional and local labor markets, labor markets of urban/rural, border/remote, stable/depressed areas is based on spatial characteristics. A qualitative approach to constructing the category of labor market competitiveness involves a set of specifi c features that determine it, in particular: quality, fl exibility, balance, stability, resilience of the labor market and safety (security) at work. The transformations of the labor market and human capital structure, which occur under the infl uence of migration, basically refer to gender-age and professional-qualifi cation changes of the economically active population, to restructuring of the labor market conditions, to the changes in the market fl exibility, resilience, effi ciency, safety and functionality. The decisive role of the labor market as a determinant of economic competitiveness and migration security of the state has been proven. It is found that under current geopolitical conditions and with the new stage of the European integration development of Ukraine, increasing the competitiveness of the domestic labor market can act as one of the mechanisms of socio-economic convergence of Ukraine and the European Union. Keywords: human resources, labor market, migration, competitiveness, security, conceptual basis.

Сфера праці та зайнятості України в умовах війни: стан, проблеми, динаміка змін у контексті повоєнного відновлення

The article provides an assessment of the status, dynamics of changes in the Ukrainian domestic labor market and employment under conditions of the full-scale war. The situation in the domestic labor market is investigated on the basis of the synthesis of socio-logical, statistical information, analytics of personnel agencies, the NBU report – in the context of the need to stabilize the state of labor sphere for the long-term post-war restoration of the Ukrainian economy. The main personnel and regional disproportions, problems and losses that have arisen in the labor sphere during the period of full-scale invasion and it’s devastating consequences are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the sociological analysis of the main attitudes of the able-bodied Ukrainian population in terms of employment and behavior in the domestic labor market, which should be taken into account when developing and implementing the socio-economic policy of stabilizing the state of the labor sphere and further post-war restoration of the Ukrainian economy. The impact on the labor market which was provided with losses and damage to production assets as a result of hostilities, has been considered. The means of stabilizing the state and further post-war restoration of the labor sphere and the national economy through the involvement of digitalization resources are proposed. It was revealed that distance work is a trend that continues its growth in the labor market of Ukraine even in war. Therefore, special attention is paid to the spread and further possibilities of using distance employment as a way of stabilizing the labor market under critical and force majeure conditions. The need to introduce a ICT-based system of monitoring the state and dynamics of labor sphere and the changes in the labor market under the conditions of war is substantiated, sn order to ensure comprehensive diagnosis and adoption of reasonable management decisions for stabilization and post-war restoration of the labor sphere. This is a prerequisite for the implementation of the proposed by the MOT “build back better” principle, that means to ensure a more stable, inclusive, environmental and smart development with the widespread use of smart technologies (based on the formation of an expanded digital infrastructure).

Proactive career behavior in management: A systematic literature review

The purpose of the conducted systematic review is to identify how organizations can promote proactive career behavior among employees. The review includes 91 articles published in highly ranked English language journals till 2022. The review covers three categories of job seekers — the employed (the domestic labor market), those in active search (the external labor market), students. The employed workers include both new recruits and those who are interested in further career advancement. The study interprets the key definitions related to proactive career behavior and clarifies the variants of operationalization. The authors suggest four measures how to promote employees’ proactive career behavior. Due to the novelty of the topic in the domestic academic context, the identified definitions, operationalization and methods of organizational support require empirical testing in Russian organizations. The paper introduces the publications in highly ranked journals; it increases the credibility of the obtained results and shows possible ways of empirical testing of the identified assumptions. The practical significance pertains to companies’ interest in well-being, diversity and inclusion programs. Supporting employees in their efforts related to career success has a positive impact on their well-being and expands a range of tools for managing diversity through a greater autonomy in building individual career trajectories. In Russia, most of the research on proactivity is conducted in the fields of psychology and sociology. The present review suggests a range of issues for management, shifting the focus to the role of organizations in the career success of their employees.

Upravljanje revolucijom prekvalifikacija za digitalno doba - studija slučaja - zemlje Zapadnog Balkana

Technological changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, the green transition, geopolitical changes, and risks have all complexified the working and business environment on the global market. Employee knowledge and skills become the companies' key support, as the present circumstances compel them to react quickly and adapt to new business challenges. Education, training, and employee skills improvement aligned with new technological waves and changed work procedures are becoming prominent aspects of modern business. The analysis carried out in this paper has covered just some of the factors affecting the changes in employee skills, such as the effects of digital technologies on work performance, the problem of youth education and employment, the necessity of improving the existing workforce competencies as well as their reskilling and upskilling in the context of lifelong education. The research conducted had two goals. A comparative analysis of the implementation of supplementary adult and employee education in selected countries of the Western Balkans. The second goal was focused on the domestic labor market in order to show that local companies have a developed awareness of the need to innovate knowledge and skills, whereas it also drew attention to the specifics of that process with a distinctive focus on digital and green skills as skills necessary for modern business operations. The research results have shown that Serbian companies have become aware of the importance of a workforce that cultivates digital skills and possesses knowledge in the field of ICT. The analysis has shown a lack of awareness when it comes to personal employee upskilling, although most of the companies that participated in the research emphasize training programs and upskilling as something that is being continuously worked on.

Development of Temporary and Seasonal Agricultural Labor Forces in Japan

This paper presented a literature review of the actual situation and efforts in securing temporary and seasonal agricultural labor forces in Japan. Until the 1990s, farmers can secure temporary agricultural labor forces from within their communities in most parts of Japan. However, with the decrease in the number of farmers, labor shortages in the horticultural sector became apparent in the 2000s. In Hokkaido, the temporary agricultural labor forces were provided by a group of female laborers; however, from the late 1990s, the aging of these women began to raise the issue of labor shortages. Therefore, job offers were spread to more regions, but securing laborers in the domestic labor market became difficult in recent years. Under these circumstances, the foreign technical training system played a role in the acceptance of foreign agricultural laborers, but there were many restrictions on accepting foreign workers as temporary or seasonal labor forces. Alternatively, from 2019, the “Specified Skilled Worker Systems” was started, making it possible to accept foreign agricultural laborers more flexibly. This means that the target regions for job offers are expanding beyond national borders.

ТРЕНДЫ И РИСКИ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА РОССИИ И УЗБЕКИСТАНА В УСЛОВИЯХ ГЕОПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЙ НАПРЯЖЕННОСТИ

Based on the analysis of Russia's foreign economic relations with Uzbekistan, the study reveals an asymmetry in economic cooperation between the two states, manifested in the great dependence of the Central Asian republic on Russia, especially in overcoming poverty problems and reducing pressure on the domestic labor market. With this in mind, the author assessed the impact of increasing geopolitical tensions on the dynamics of bilateral cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan, as well as the possible consequences of sanctions pressure on the former for the economy of the latter.

Developing high-quality human resources in Vietnam: A case in Binh Duong province

Human resources, especially high-quality human resources, play a decisive role in the socio-economic development of each country. In the context of deep and wide integration, along with the strong fourth industrial revolution, Binh Duong has focused on quickly building high-quality human resources to meet the requirements of development and international integration; which focuses human resources for industries with high technology content and added value, improving training quality to meet domestic and foreign labor market requirements. However, in recent years, Binh Duong has faced great challenges, high-quality human resources have not met the requirements of socio-economic development in the current international integration process. Therefore, it is necessary to have a system of guidelines, policies, strategic planning, and planning that are implemented synchronously to further develop high-quality human resources to meet the requirements of socio-economic development in the process of international integration.

НАПРЯМИ АКТИВІЗАЦІЇ ЗАЙНЯТОСТІ НАСЕЛЕННЯ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ

The article examines the state of employment of the population of Ukraine in the conditions of the military economy. The changes that took place in the labor market compared to 2021 have been determined. Expert assessments of the number of unemployed in Ukraine in 2022, carried out by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Kyiv School of Economics, the International Labor Organization and the National Bank of Ukraine, were considered. The reasons for the increase in the level of unemployment are revealed, among which the main ones are the collapse of business, the destruction of the production base of many enterprises as a result of missile attacks of the Russian Federation, the forced reduction of staff in order to optimize costs. The study of the European Business Association on the state of work of companies in January 2023 is characterized. It was found that only 54% of companies were fully operational during this period. The views of domestic scientists regarding directions for employment activation and restoration of labor market parameters were considered, among which the attraction of donor funds for the creation of new jobs was highlighted as the main one; formation of effective programs for retraining and improving the qualifications of employees; development of short-term plans for relocation or reorientation of some enterprises; stimulation by the state of private business in order to expand opportunities for employment of the population; creation of effective conditions for self-employment of the population; expansion of sources of financial support for business by methods of granting grants and attracting foreign investments. The proposals of the European Business Association regarding the improvement of the regulatory framework for the functioning of the labor market are described. Measures implemented by the government to increase employment are analyzed, in particular: introduction of tax benefits for individual entrepreneurs; development of the enterprise relocation program; implementation of the "eRobota" project; approval of a new procedure for providing compensation to employers for employment of certain categories of registered unemployed. It was concluded that there is a need to create a mechanism for providing jobs to internally displaced persons, and in the post-war period, to develop and implement a Strategy for the restoration and stabilization of the domestic labor market.

FORMATION OF THE INNOVATIVE COMPONENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF THE WORKFORCE OF UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL DIGITALIZATION

The article is devoted to the consideration of the basic characteristics, the economic focus of the process of formation of the innovative component of the international competitiveness of the workforce of Ukraine in the conditions of global digitalization of the world economy. The innovative component of the international competitiveness of the workforce is defined as the potential professional abilities of employees who are able to optimally use the latest achievements of scientific and technological progress in social production. The main components of the innovative component of the formation of the international competitiveness of the domestic workforce are studied, namely: a) the level of mastery of modern information and communication tools; b) targeting the constant mastery of new digital technologies; c) acquisition of professional competences oriented to the parameters of world standards; d) modernization of the national system of higher education in the direction of training highly qualified specialists in demand on the domestic and global labour markets; e) using the advantages of cooperation with international partners in the field of involvement in training and borrowing new forms and methods of ensuring the professional growth of young specialists. Factors affecting the development of the innovative component of the international competitiveness of national labour resources are analyzed. They include: 1) the consequences of the russian military aggression against Ukraine, which led to a decrease in the national scientific and technical potential; 2) forced migration of specialists within our country and abroad; 3) insufficient development of the IT sector of the domestic labour market; 4) regional disparities in the use of highly qualified labour force; 5) inadequate financing of the system of training of highly qualified personnel. The directions for strengthening the innovative component of the international competitiveness of the domestic workforce are proved, including: a) development of balanced state programs for national and regional development of highly qualified labour resources; b) modernization of higher education standards in the training of specialists of various professions; c) implementation of measures to stimulate the development of the national IT industry, digitization of industries and spheres of domestic production; d) formation of analytical centers for the study of features and trends in the development of world labour markets; e) adoption of an innovative national system of qualifications, oriented to the needs of internal and external business.

Identification of spatial imbalances and risks of regional labor market development in Ukraine in the context of current destabilization processes

The article focuses on the problems of destabilization of the Ukrainian national economy and its regional markets in the context of the full-scale war. The key challenges of regional development in the short term as a result of their growing imbalances are identified, in particular the functioning of labor markets. The authors point out the long-term challenges to the development of regional labor markets and prove that the policy of their leveling should be based on strengthening competitiveness and enhancing convergence with the EU labor markets. The most critical trends in social stability in the regions of Ukraine during the war are characterized. The article presents statistical parameters of the registered labor market in the regions of Ukraine separately in terms of labor supply and separately in terms of labor demand in the pre-war period and during the war. The reasons for the low level of registered unemployment in the regions of Ukraine during the war are highlighted. The authors analyze the level of balance of regional labor markets and identify the main risks and threats to their functioning and development in the context of modern destabilization processes. Based on the analysis of regional aggregate demand (vacant and employed jobs) and aggregate supply (economically active population) in 2008, 2014, and 2021, the level of balance of the domestic labor market is calculated and assessed. Three types of labor-surplus regions are identified: (1) regions with a lag in socio-economic development and intensive demographic growth; (2) depressed regions, where the number of jobs stabilizes or decreases due to stagnation in the areas of specialization due to the exhaustion of raw materials or poor competitiveness of manufactured products; (3) regions with a deformed economic structure or monopoly position of enterprises and individual industries in the labor market, which leads to an imbalance of demographic or qualification nature. The prospects and priorities of the state policy of stabilizing the functioning and ensuring the development of regional labor markets in Ukraine are outlined.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF APPLIED BACHELOR'S DEGREE: MODERN LABOR MARKET REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL TRAINING

Currently, in the context of education modernization in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the problem of developing educational programs for applied bachelor's degree is becoming very urgent. Based on the analysis of statistical data, the article discusses the need for their implementation and successful functioning in the Republic of Kazakhstan. When analyzing the demand, it is necessary to take into account that the object of this analysis is the approximate ratio of supply and demand in the regional and republican labor markets for a particular specialty or profession, in which training is or will be conducted in a TVE organization. The analysis of sociological studies of international and domestic labor market shows which specialties and professions are most in demand. They are associated with the following areas of activity: nanotechnology, high-tech engineering, biotechnology, sales and marketing, IT technology, services, logistics and transport, medicine, chemical industry, “clean” energy and environment. Training in OPPB is carried out in the areas that combine groups of related professions, specialties and skill levels. The most in-demand areas are: business and management, metallurgy and metalworking, electrical engineering, construction, woodworking, textiles and clothing production, chemistry, physics and biology, printing, interior design, health and hygiene, food processing, agriculture, ecology and environmental protection environment, etc.

Informal Employment in Modern Russia: Old Problems and New Realities

Despite the serious measures taken in the country to reduce informal employment, this area remains a significant segment of the Russian labor market. At the same time, both the terminology used and the quantitative parameters of informal employment remain unclear. In recent years, the problem of informal employment in Russia has become more acute due to the active and noticeably accelerated development of information and communication technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of new forms of non-standard employment, such as freelancing, platform employment, self-employment, outstaffing, etc. These forms do not yet have a clear and unambiguous interpretation, but they also have a significant “shadow” component. Currently, large-scale economic sanctions have been added to the existing problems, giving rise to the so-called "sanctions crisis", the impact of which on all segments of the domestic labor market, including its informal part, may be significant and ambiguous. In conclusion, the article draws attention to the need to develop a clear interpretation of the term "informal employment" as well as clear distinction and regulation of the statuses of platform employment, freelancing, and self-employment, also in order to provide the relevant categories of workers with social guarantees. In connection with the problem under consideration, a critical analysis of the proposals developed by the Russian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection for a new law on employment in the Russian Federation has been carried out.

SPEAKING COMPETENCE AS A NECESSARY COMPONENT OF COMPETITIVE TRAINING SPECIALISTS IN UNIVERSITIES OF UKRAINE

Modernization of educational activities in Ukraine in the context of European standards – is primarily raising training quality and competitive professionals, compliance with European labor market conditions for the free movement of students in Ukraine and Europe. Creating the conditions for competitive advantage in the world is the main condition for economic and social stability in Ukraine. Expected changes are possible only if the level of labor productivity, which in turn depends on the presence in the domestic labor market modern highly qualified specialists. Thus, any transformations in economy is impossible without reforming and modernizing training competitive specialists. Upgrading of educational activities in Ukraine in the context of European standards – is, first of all, raising competitiveness and quality of training of specialists, matching the European labor market, creating conditions for free movement of students in Ukraine and Europe. Creating conditions for competitive advantage in the world is the main condition for economic and social stability in Ukraine. Expected changes are possible only if the increase in labor productivity, which in turn depends on the presence in the domestic labor market today highly qualified specialists. Consequently, any transformations in the economy are impossible without reform and modernization of training competitive professionals.

Employment of international education graduates: issues of economy and resistance to change

Many emerging markets and middle-income countries use international scholarship programs as a long-established approach to human capital development. However, many graduates of international scholarship programs put great efforts to succeed in their home country and face many challenges when navigating the labour market. In fact, socio-economic factors including lack of jobs, saturated fields caused by an overly competitive domestic labour market, inflated salary expectations make it challenging for the international scholarship graduates to land a job after graduation. This paper explores the employment experiences of Kazakhstani government scholarship programs’ graduates majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and sheds light on the challenges the graduates face when navigating the domestic labour market. An analysis based on 45 interviews shows that international scholarship graduates enjoy a positional advantage in the labor market and many of them have built a successful career. Despite this, their employment and career prospects are hampered by intertwining socio-economic and cultural factors, intergenerational clashes and scholarship program rules and regulations. Recommendations for minimizing the issues that graduates face when navigating the labor market are discussed. Keywords: graduate employability, international education, scholarship programs, labor market, employability challenges

Analysis of the impact of digitalization on demand and supply on the Ukrainian labor market

The article indicates the impact of digitalization and automation of manufacturing processes on demand and supply on the Ukrainian labor market. The analysis showed the positive effects of digitization, which stabilize the situation in the domestic labor market. In particular, in the extreme conditions of the pandemic and war, these are the emergence of new digital professions, the possibility of remote work, the individualization of forms of employment and conditions of cooperation for the personal needs of labor market entities. The concept of digital professions has been introduced as a creative labor activity, since it is associated with the promotion, security of functioning and the expanded practice of digital technologies in manufacturing processes in any sphere of economic activity. The trend of increasing the number of digital practitioners in the wake of the worldwide trend of inducing a global information society has been grounded. The consequences of digitalization are shown that hinder the effective functioning of the labor market and manifest themselves in the increase in unemployment due to the emergence of unnecessary workers whose skills are impractical in digitized reality, the outflow of personnel to foreign labor markets, and the increase in inequality of the population in labor opportunities. The necessity of interaction between educational institutions, business and the state in achieving a balance of supply and demand in the labor market of Ukraine in the context of digitalization is emphasized.

Peculiarities of Migration Processes and Dynamics of Labor Potential in Ukraine after the Beginning War

The full-scale military invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine has provoked the emergence of significant destabilizing factors in the development of the economy and the society. Along with this, it has had the greatest impact on migration processes, provoking significant destructive changes in the country’s labour potential. The purpose of the academic paper lies in studying the theoretical and applied principles of population migration as a factor of changing the labour potential in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. The methodological base of the present research consists of fundamental and applied methods of economic analysis, namely: functional-systemic approach; process approach method; comparative analysis and synthesis; observation and system analysis; statistical analysis and comparison; generalization and systematization; graphical and tabular methods. The obtained results of the conducted research make it possible to establish that population migration has a significant impact on the labour potential of Ukraine, which is manifested in the departure of a significant number of the population abroad (the volume of which reached 5,7 million people in 2022, of which 43,5 % constitute the working population age); consequently, this unbalances the national and international labour market. It has been revealed that 40 % of pupils and student youth have emigrated from Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war and continue their studies in foreign educational institutions, which threatens the outflow of highly qualified specialists in the future and the dominance of the domestic labour market by specialists of the middle and older age categories. It has been proven that the existing threat to the labour potential of the country lies in the forced deportation of the population of Ukraine to the territory of Russia, the volume of which is estimated at the level of 1 million 2 thousand people, without taking into account prisoners of war of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is proposed to focus the main efforts in the direction of the cessation of hostilities and the formation of a set of measures regarding interstate cooperation of Ukraine with other countries of the world in the field of population migration and development of labour potential.

The impact of globalization on domestic employment

ABSTRACT Immigrants and offshore workers become important disturbing factors of domestic employment in the globalized economy. In this study we build a model with this feature to test how the three groups of workers in the labour force interact using a panel data of 155 countries over the period 1990–2015. We find that while immigrants replaced native workers (especially highly skilled ones), offshore workers who produce intermediate input imports do not. The productivity effect of offshoring is stronger for developed economies while the substitution effect of immigration is stronger for developing countries. Furthermore, the productivity effects of immigration and offshoring are stronger when governments impose less restrictions on international trade and domestic labour market.

Migrant Women's Health and Safety: Why Do Ethiopian Women Choose Irregular Migration to the Middle East for Domestic Work?

Background: Low-wage labour migration is an increasing determinant of global health, associated with risks of exploitation, abuse, and unsafe conditions. Despite efforts to prevent irregular migration and initiatives to warn individuals of the risks of trafficking, many migrants still opt for irregular channels, particularly women seeking jobs as domestic workers. Ethiopia is one of the largest source countries for female migrants entering the domestic labour market in the Middle East. This qualitative study explored migration decision making by Ethiopian women traveling to the Middle East for domestic labour, focusing on the use of irregular channels. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with policy stakeholders, migration recruiters, and returnee domestic workers. Results: We identified three main themes that help explain decision making by female migrants and their communities. First, women were not always clear whether they were using legally approved processes, particularly because of the range of individuals involved in arranging migration plans. Second, irregular migration was seen to be quicker and easier than regular migration procedures. Third, study participants believed the risks between irregular and regular migration were similar. Conclusion: Our study highlights challenges associated with antitrafficking initiatives that discourage irregular migration and suggests new perspectives to address the health risks linked to labour migration.