PROBLEMS AND INTERACTION BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE RURAL LABOUR MARKET: A REGIONAL ANALYSIS
Under the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet another serious problem emerged in agriculture, i.e. the lack of workers to perform manual non-mechanized work in the presence of labour resources unoccupied in the regional economy. Therefore, it was necessary to consider the ability of the state to regulate the labour market in rural areas. Using the classical methods of research, laws, statutes, codes, rules, regulations and requirements governing state policy in the sector of employment and rural labour market status were considered as exemplified by data of Lipetsk Oblast. It has been found that federal laws and other regulatory documents do not provide for preventive measures against unemployment, and the labour market in rural areas is practically not considered the documents on this level. The state in regard to the labour market fulfills an intermediary mission: it indirectly stimulates businesses to create new jobs (including those in rural areas) and helps job seekers in finding jobs. The study showed that under the current conditions the existence of a separate labour market in rural settlements is impossible because it is directly incorporated into regional and district market, therefore, it is necessary to consider the labour market in the rural area or regional market as a whole. The analysis of the proposed vacancies showed that the key problem of the rural labour market is the lack of competitiveness of jobs in terms of wages and working conditions. Besides, private business under containment measures demonstrated its main weakness, i.e. the inability to keep all workspaces. Public sector of the economy resilience to various external shocks and the provision of financial support to business from the state give reason to talk about the need for socialization of the labour market. But, despite this, the liberal approach in the labour sector at the state level must be preserved, because otherwise the labour market will lose its flexibility, which can negatively affect the economy as a whole.