# **_Ukraine: Mining Towns Compared_**<sup>**_to a National Sample_**</sup>

137. In Ukraine, in addition to the qualitative<sup>component,aquantitativecomponentwas</sup> included in the research with the<sup>objectiveof comparing employmentandliving conditions in the</sup> mining municipalities with those<sup>in like-sizedmunicipalities acrossthe country.Followingisa</sup> brief description of the survey design<sup>and its chief findings.A detaileddescription of thesurvey</sup> and the analysis of the results is given<sup>in Shkaratan(2002).</sup> 138. The same questionnaire was administered<sup>torespondentsdrawnfromtwo samples:(i)a</sup> representative sample of the<sup>populationofthetwomining municipalities, Gorlovkaand</sup> Stakhanov, in which the qualitative<sup>researchwas carriedout (sample size -514individuals),and</sup> (ii) a representative national sample<sup>ofurbanUkraine.Respondentslivinginruralareasand</sup> large cities (those with populalions<sup>over500,000)wereexcludedfrom theanalysisinorderto</sup> enhance the comparability with<sup>GorlovkaandStakhanov,which resulted inasampleof 705</sup> individuals.

139. The analysis found significant<sup>resultsinthreeareasthatarepresentedbelow:(i)labor</sup> migration; (ii) employment conditions;<sup>and (iii) housing andcommunal services.</sup> 140. _Large-scale migration fiom the mining_<sup>_cities._Even before the interviewingin the mining</sup> municipalities was completed,<sup>ihe processof compilingthesampleinthetwo towns revealeda</sup> high level of unoccupied apartments,<sup>orabsent familymembersinapartmentsthatwere</sup> occupied. At the time of the survey, an<sup>estimated37%ofthepopulationof Gorlovkaand</sup> Stakhanov aged 18 or more was<sup>absentfrom the citiesforanextended period.</sup> 141. The methodology used to compile<sup>thesample entailedasafirststeprecordingbasic</sup> demographic information on the<sup>residentsof a largenumberof randomly selectedaddresses.Of</sup> the total 1,618 addresses selected<sup>inthis fashion,information receivedfrom neighbors indicated</sup> that in 460 cases (or 28% of the<sup>total),theresidentsof theselectedaddresshadeithermoved</sup> away or were absent for an extended<sup>periodinconnection withemploymentelsewhere.In the</sup> remaining cases, interviewers were<sup>abletorecordhousehold composition, foratotalof 2,136</sup> individuals in the two cities, as<sup>indicatedinTable5 below.Of the671individualswhowere</sup> selected from this composite<sup>listfor thesample,89,or13%,wereabsentfrom thecityin</sup> connection with employment elsewhere,<sup>as reportedby other membersof theirhousehold.These</sup> two separate observations combined<sup>makefortheestimatethatsome37%of theregistered</sup> population in the two cities was absent<sup>for anextendedperiodat the time of thesurvey.</sup> 142. The second estimate of 13% is<sup>consistentwithactualsurveyresults.Around11%of</sup> respondents gave a positive response<sup>tothe question,"In thelast12months,haveyou or your</sup> family members had to travel in<sup>order toearn moneyinothercities or countries(seasonal work,</sup> "shuttle" trading, etc.)?" 143. Table 5 compares the age and gender<sup>structureof the populationas recordedin thecourse</sup> of compiling the sample with the<sup>official statisticsfrom thetwo cities.As canbe seen,itis the</sup> working-age population, and<sup>more likelymenthan women,whowereabsent.Thepopulation</sup> actually living in the cities is considerably<sup>older, and morelikely to be female,than indicatedby</sup> official statistics. The tendencies<sup>areidenticalin GorlovkaandStakhanov.</sup> 41