ABSTRACT
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, the labour market of the Arctic Region began to be integrated into the global system with investments involving new and modern technologies. With this process, the employment structure of this geographical area is noticeably expanding and getting very heterogeneous. From a historical point of view, this region has attracted the attention of explorers, whale hunters, fur traders, gold and mine seekers, and adventurers since the 16th century and has provided jobs and better living conditions for those who live in the region. The absence of indigenous people living on the archipelago, which was taken as an example in this study, caused the local people on the Archipelago to differ from the nearby regions. In this region, workers generally consisted of men working in the mining branch and more women working in the service sector. In the past 30 years, new investments made by coastal countries and trans-holding companies have also increased employment opportunities that require qualified personnel since they meet this need of employment by transferring there some holding employees and qualified personnel who are appointed there for a short period of time. Since the 1990s, employment opportunities have increased in different working sectors, such as tourism, education/training, and research activities. With the Spitzbergen Treaty, signed in 1920, the legal status of the Archipelago was determined. Until today, citizens and companies of 46 countries that signed this treaty have been given the right to equality of treatment, which has triggered the emergence of a unique labour market by accepting the principles of non-discrimination to the treaty countries and their citizens. In this study, the effects of the step-by-step integration process on the labour market will be analysed by integrating the archipelago into the global labour market, especially with Norway, which has switched to the digital economy. Also, as a supplement, in the areas where the Russian Federation was effective on the archipelago, the background effect of the returns observed especially in the 1990s will be emphasized. Screening and interpretation of primary sources will be essential in conducting the study. Official resources from the Spitzbergen/Svalbard Archipelago and Norway will be used, as well as demographic and statistical material from reports of other sources available.
