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Abstract

This paper explores the emerging geographies of labor migration from Uzbekistan to the Baltic States and Nordic countries. While Uzbek labor migration has historically been oriented toward Russia and Kazakhstan, the past five years have witnessed a diversification of destinations. This shift reflects broader demographic pressures, economic transformations, and evolving governance frameworks both in Uzbekistan and in receiving states.

Grounded in migration regime theory (Comte, 2023), the paper conceptualizes these migration flows as shaped by multi-level regulatory environments that determine migrants’ legal status, access to employment, and integration opportunities. The central argument holds that while these new routes offer alternative socioeconomic pathways, they simultaneously create heightened precarity for Uzbek migrants, due to fragmented legal frameworks, informal recruitment practices, and uneven enforcement of labor rights.

The study employs a mixed-methods design, combining analysis of migration statistics, policy documents, media discourses, NGO reports, and semi-structured interviews.

Preliminary findings reveal a marked disconnect between official legal frameworks and migrants’ lived realities. Migration regimes across the Baltic and Nordic region range from relatively facilitative (Lithuania, Latvia) to increasingly restrictive (Sweden, Finland). For instance, in 2023, Lithuania issued over 7,500 work-related residence permits to Uzbek nationals—more than any other EU member state—while Latvia has reported a growing Uzbek community of over 4,000. In contrast, Sweden hosts an estimated 20,000 Uzbek migrants (Eraliev, 2023), most of whom lack legal status and face increasing deportation pressures (e.g., 895 removal orders in 2023).

In response to these disparities, Uzbek migrants mobilize informal channels, personal networks, and digital platforms such as Telegram to navigate complex institutional landscapes. This highlights the interplay between structural constraints and individual agency in the context of labor migration.

By comparing the structural and experiential dimensions of Uzbek labor migration in distinct European contexts, this paper contributes to broader scholarly debates on migration governance, labor market informalization, and post-Soviet mobility. It argues that these emerging migration corridors from Central Asia are reshaping not only the peripheries of European labor markets but also the dynamics of development and transnational engagement in Uzbekistan itself. The findings underscore the need to reconceptualize Central Asian migration not merely as a reaction to economic hardship, but as a negotiated process shaped by state strategies, transnational networks, and global labor demands.