The Struggle against Unemployment: The Volyn Historical Experience in the NEP Period

The issue of unemployment and the strategies devised to combat it have remained a persistent challenge both in Ukraine and globally throughout the twentieth century and into the present day. This article seeks to conduct a comprehensive examination of the approaches adopted by Soviet authorities in the Volyn region to tackle unemployment during the NEP (New Economic Policy) period.

The novelty of this study lies in its inaugural in-depth analysis of the unemployment issue and countermeasures implemented in the Volyn region during the NEP years. This examination is bolstered by the introduction of previously unexplored archival documents and periodical materials, as it strives to offer an objective evaluation of the circumstances at that time.

The analysis reveals that unemployment surged in the aftermath of the civil war, driven partly by the downturn in industrial production and staffing cuts across various institutions that characterized the NEP era. Contributory factors also included demobilization initiatives stemming from the Red Army and the forcefully executed establishment of market mechanisms by the Bolshevik regime, which instigated inherent conflicts.

Inspecting the state’s anti-unemployment strategies in Volyn unravels several critical observations: establishing robust control over labor market metrics was a challenging endeavor; administrative-command procedures predominated in unemployment resolution efforts, and the bureaucratic focus on facilitating the smooth operation of labor exchanges was inadequate. However, the regime’s initiative to extend financial assistance to the jobless on a monthly basis marked a positive step, channeling substantial funds to address related issues and leveraging public works projects as a vital avenue to reduce unemployment numbers.

Notwithstanding the strides made, the discourse surrounding unemployment among women and teenagers in Volyn remains underexplored and warrants deeper investigation. This article constitutes a pioneering effort to scrutinize the complexities of combating unemployment in Volyn during the NEP period, aiming to shed new light on a topic of enduring relevance.