At the Regional Studies Association conference, Dr Nadine Marmai presented recommendations on securing the workforce in regions experiencing population decline
A joint study by HTWK Leipzig and the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography was presented under the title ‘Swimming against the demographic tide: Recommendations for securing the workforce in shrinking regions’.
The joint paper discusses the scope for economic policy action in industrial regions that are facing labour shortages as a result of demographic change. In shrinking regions, securing the labour supply is crucial for economic policy-making. Investment alone is not enough when the working-age population is shrinking. Networks, migration and the maintenance and expansion of education and training structures are crucial to addressing this change and unlocking the region’s potential. The paper advocates an approach to population decline that shapes economic transformation in the context of demographic conditions.
The paper was presented by Dr Nadine Marmai from Prof. Rüdiger Wink’s team, who works at both HTWK Leipzig and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. Read the paper
About the conference
The Regional Studies Association’s 2026 Annual Conference took place from 15 to 18 June 2026 at the Faculty of Economics, Law and Business Administration at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The event brought together leading academics, policy-makers and researchers to exchange insights, perspectives and the latest research findings in the fields of regional studies, economic development, politics and planning. The conference brought together participants from around 55 countries, including both experienced experts and early-career researchers.
