A COVID–19 járvány hatása a leghátrányosabb helyzetű településeken élők mindennapjaira: ahogy a hátrányos helyzetűek és a szociális szolgáltatásokat nyújtók látják

Összefoglaló. Jelen tanulmányunk a biztonság társadalmi aspektusait egy speciális csoport, a mélyszegénységben élő családok és az őket segítő szakemberek körében vizsgálja a COVID–19 idején. Kvalitatív módszerrel (csoportos és egyéni interjúk) a makro- (szociális támogatórendszer) és a mikrotársadalmi biztonság dimenziók összefüggését, valamint a mikroszintű biztonság dimenziók közti viszonyokat elemezzük. Ez utóbbi dimenziók leírásánál a kisgyermekes családok munkaerőpiaci és ezzel együtt anyagi helyzetére, mentális egészségi állapotukra, valamint az oktatási helyzet bemutatására koncentrálunk. Az egyes témák leírásánál az érintett családok és az őket segítő szakemberek helyzetértékelése is megjelenik a velük készített interjúk elemzése alapján. Summary. This study examines the social aspects of security among a specific group of families living in extreme poverty and the professionals helping them during Covid-19. Using a qualitative method (group and individual interviews), we analyse the relationship between macro (social support system) and micro social dimensions of security, as well as the linkages between micro-level dimensions of security. In describing the latter dimensions, we will focus on the labour market situation of families with young children, and hence on their financial situation, their mental health situation and their educational situation. The description of each theme also includes an assessment of the situation of the families concerned and the professionals who help them, based on an analysis of the interviews conducted with them. In the first phase of the study, social problems were identified on the basis of interviews with experts. In the second phase, individual interviews were conducted with the people concerned, the disadvantaged. 11 interviews were conducted with experts: 5 individual and 6 group interviews. In the second phase, 50 disadvantaged people were interviewed individually. In general, it can be concluded that the daily life of people living in disadvantaged areas has been further affected by the pandemic. The labour market situation has changed and, in this context, the financial situation of the interviewees has further deteriorated. Single-parent families were particularly affected by these problems. The transition to online education has created difficulties for families, children, and teachers and additional tasks for social workers. In many places, the lack of accessible services, the low availability of equipment and low level of digital literacy have prevented distance learning from taking place, and the negative consequences for the population under study can only be predicted. The epidemic has affected the population not only financially but also mentally. The reduction in social life has led to an increase in domestic violence. In some areas, the number of births in disadvantaged families has increased, especially among minors. In fact, the epidemic has brought to the surface the problems that disadvantaged people face on a daily basis: unemployment and deprivation, compounded by educational underachievement. The workload of those working in the social field has also become more visible: a shortage of staff and a lack of resources. At the same time, the enormous potential and flexibility of the current human resources have been revealed.

Comparison of changes in the labour markets of post-communist countries with other EU member states

strengthen their international competitiveness. This was linked to the implementation of institutional and economic reforms, significant technological changes and improvements in the quality of human capital, as well as fiscal stabilisation policies. These changes affected their situation in the labour market. Purpose of the article: The aim of the study is to assess changes in the situation in the labour market in the EU with particular emphasis on the post-communist countries in the period 2002? 2019. Methods: The situation of countries in the European labour market was estimated using the TOPSIS method. A similarity matrix of changes in the composite variable for each country was then constructed using the Dynamic Time Warping method. On its basis, homogeneous clusters of countries were determined using the Ward?s method. Findings & value added: Four homogenous clusters of countries were formed. The post-communist ones belonged to two groups. In one, there were two countries ? Croatia and Slovakia. The rest of the post-communist countries were in a large cluster, which also included Germany, Malta, Finland, Portugal, France and Belgium. Changes of the situation in the post-communist countries in this group improved very much during the analysed period (this was particularly evident for Czechia, Estonia and Poland). It is interesting to investigate whether the reaction of labour markets to changes in the global economic situation in post-communist countries is similar to that in the old EU countries. The similarity of changes can be measured using the DTW method. There is an empirical research gap in this respect. Therefore, the added value is the use of this method in assessing similarities of changes in the labour market situation in post-communist countries in comparison to the Western European ones.

The COVID-19 pandemic and Poland’s macroeconomic situation

TThe research objective was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the macroeconomic situation in Poland. The research employed critical analysis of scientific literature and an analysis of statistical data. The first part of the article describes the channels through which the COVID-19 pandemic affects economy. The second part contains an analysis of changes in the mood of entrepreneurs, using monthly fluctuations of the indices measuring economic situation and consumer confidence, followed by an evaluation of Poland’s macroeconomic situation in the context of the developing COVID-19 pandemic. This evaluation was based on an analysis of quarterly data concerning changes in the GDP and its component parts, the labour market situation and changes in price indices from the first quarter of 2018 to the second quarter of 2021. The research results showed that the COVID -19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the Polish government caused negative consequences in the Polish economy. This is evidenced by the worse mood prevalent among entrepreneurs and consumers. Over the time period analysed, the macroeconomic situation of Poland was observed to have deteriorated as well, with the decreased rate of economic growth, higher unemployment rate and accelerated inflation processes.

A magyarországi fiatalok munkaerőpiaci integrációja a covid-19 világjárvány idején

In this study, my goal is to present the results of an on-line research conducted in the autumn of 2020 in Hungary focusing on the labour market situation and opportunities and difficulties of integration of 17-29 aged young people. The aim of research is to improve the labour market situation of young people in the COVID-19 pandemic. The research question is what impact does the pandemic have on the integration of young people into the labour market. It is assumed that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a negative impact on the target group. My work involves quantitative methodology as well as questionnaires filled out by young people on-line.

CEE LABOUR MARKETS – HOMOGENEITY OR DIVERSITY?

The aim of the article is to assess real changes taking place on CEE labour markets over the last fifteen years, taking into account as the initial point of analysis – 2004, i.e. the moment of extension of the EU by the first CEE countries and as a final point of analysis – 2019. The research was conducted in two stages. The authors made comparisons with the use of the TOPSIS method, which allowed for creating rankings of CEE countries in terms of labour market situation in the analysed years. The second stage of the study involved the analysis of relations between employment and GDP by an estimation of the multiple regression model. The conducted analysis proves that CEE countries are diversified when it comes to the labour market situation. These countries are also characterized by significant dynamics of changes in the labour market.

Placement Advisors as Innovators. How Professionals Use Enhanced Discretion in Germany’s Public Employment Services

Employees of the public employment services (PES) are street-level bureaucrats who shape activation policy on the ground. This paper examines how PES staff use enhanced discretion in an innovation project carried out by the German Federal Employment Agency. Applying a bottom-up perspective, we reconstruct PES employees’ logic of action and the dilemmas they face in improving counselling and placement services. According to our findings, placement staff use enhanced discretion to promote more individualised support and an adequate matching of jobseekers and employers. The use of discretion is framed by organisational norms and reward mechanisms and by the current labour market situation. Our analyses are based on qualitative interviews and group discussions with placement staff.

The impact of Special Economic Zones on local labour markets in Poland

Studies conducted so far suggest that SEZs are not treated by local authorities as the main mechanism of job creation in a given region. The objective of this paper is to highlight potential mechanisms through which SEZs impact labour markets in poviats (counties) in Poland. To this end we conducted a comparative analysis of changes that had taken place in the labour market over the period 2004–2016 in two groups of poviats with the highest unemployment rate reported in 2004: with and without SEZs. The study does not allow us to unambiguously conclude that SEZs contributed to the improvement of labour market situation in poviats with the highest unemployment rate in Poland. That can be attributed to the fact that SEZs in Poland are highly fragmented as well as to SEZs investors being able to select locations for their investment projects in relatively better developed regions.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIES WITH A TIGHT LABOUR MARKET SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS (CASE STUDY OF MINSK REGION)

The article presents an analysis of the development indicators of the districts with a tight labor market situation in the Republic of Belarus. It considers the vacancies and resumes in these districts placed in the All-Republican bank of vacancies, Praca. by and rabota.by portals. The main mismatches between supply and demand at the labor market as one of the obstacles to socioeconomic development in the regions have been revealed.