The evolution of gendered migration trajectories from Moldova Georgia

This paper is the first of its kind to comparatively examine the evolution of feminized migration flows from Moldova and Georgia in the post-Soviet period. Despite some similarities between the two countries, unique migration patterns have emerged from each as the result of the complex interplay among social, political, and economic transitions. Changing labour market needs in receiving countries coupled with evolving political relationships with neighbouring countries have moulded gendered migration processes in each country. Using household survey data collected between 2011-2012 in Moldova and Georgia, this paper adds to the sparse data availability on the subject and finds that women have not only begun entering international migration at relatively high rates, but their dispersion across a larger number of destination countries and employment sectors than men suggests greater diversification among female migrants. Such evolving dynamics are important to understand for both Moldova and Georgia, which have experienced the loss of 25 per cent of their populations to migration over the past two decades. JEL codes: F22, F66, J61, J16.