A warm welcome to
Regional labour markets in times of shrinking populations:
challenges, social inequalities and ways ahead
25 - 28 March 2025
Umeå University

Welcome to an international conference, hosted by the Department of Geography, Umeå University, Sweden, 25-28 March 2025! The conference is supported by the IGU Commission on Population Geography, Centre for regional science (Cerum) at Umeå university, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Conference theme

The labour markets of small and medium-sized regions in the 21st century are facing distinctive challenges, often linked to shrinking populations and sometimes to geographical remoteness. The sustainability of these regions is intricately linked to their ability to address demographic challenges, and to how population processes and regional economic development are intersecting.

The conference addresses topics of regional labour market challenges with aging populations, national and international migration, labour supply and workforce dynamics, but also with how to tackle the global challenges of resource inequalities and how to produce fair labour markets and sustainability in a broad sense. Labour supply, a critical driver to sustain economic transformation and sustainable local development, has a direct impact on the future development trajectories of small and medium-sized regions. The balance between job opportunities and the availability of a skilled workforce is vital for fostering economic resilience, community well-being, and environmental sustainability. Moreover, global divisions of labour, which often are based on resource inequalities, run the risk of producing precarious labour markets, based on race, ethnicity, gender and class.

In recent years, many small and medium-sized regions have been faced with various labour-related challenges, including aging populations, out-migration, and skill gaps, which have given rise to labour shortages and other socio-economic challenges. Understanding and mitigating these challenges is vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of these areas. The conference’s aim is to provide a space to address these issues.  We invite presentations on the following themes:

1. Internal and international perspectives on labour market shortages and mismatch
2. Temporary and permanent labour migration and precarious work
3. Informal labour migration
4. Lifestyle migration, privileged mobilities, digital nomadism, and work

Confirmed keynote speakers

• Prof. Johan Fredrik Rye, Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway).
• Prof. Maria Abreu, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge (UK).
• Associate prof. Madeleine Eriksson, Department of Geography, Umeå University (Sweden).

Timeline

• 31 October 2024, deadline for abstract submission via conference website -Extended to 7 November
• December 2024, notification of abstract acceptance via e-mail
• February 2025, deadline for registration via conference website

Conference information 
The conference will take place in Umeå, Sweden from the early evening of Tuesday 25 March to mid-day on Friday 28 March 2025.
The conference fee is 1250 SEK excl VAT. This includes a minor welcome reception, coffee, tea, conference dinner and three lunches.

Target groups and participants
The conference seeks to bring together researchers from the fields of regional studies and economic geography with scholars from population geography and migration research.

Submit your abstract to the conference here >>