Migration and Labor Market Dynamics in the Visegrad Countries: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This paper focuses on the impact of migration on macroeconomic indicators in the Visegrad Four (V4) countries. The selection of the V4 countries is based on regionalism: these Central European countries are linked by cultural proximity, similar historical experiences, and characteristic features of their labor markets. Despite their strategic position in the European Union, the economic impacts of migration in this region remain insufficiently researched. Based on data from Eurostat and national statistical offices, two hypotheses were examined and tested using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results highlighted significant differences between the individual V4 countries. In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, migration supported labor markets and positively impacted unemployment, while in Hungary, similar effects were not observed, which is related to restrictive policies and a weaker integration framework. The study confirms that the economic impacts of migration are complex, context-dependent, and strongly shaped by integration policies.

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