Socio-economic problems in a mining town during the economy restructuring period on the example of Ruda Śląska, Poland

Abstract

The 90s of the twientieth century carried a restructuring of the industry which involved the adaptation of enterprises to operate in a market economy, the workforce reduction and privatization of industrial facilities. Economic transformation has contributed to the socio-economic changes in industrial and mining towns. It affected the changes in the employment structure, changes in the number of population, migration decisions, the quality of medical care and municipal institutions support. Ruda Śląska is a typical mining town, history of which for nearly 200 years has been a consecutive period associated with the mining and heavy industries. This work is based on statistical data and approximates the effects of restructuring evident in Ruda Śląska. The presented characterization indicates that the situation prevailing in the city refers to the conditions of life in the most traditional mining regions of Central and Eastern Europe. Despite the significant reconstruction in the employment structure, Ruda Śląska retains partly its mining character. Population of the town is trying to cope with the need to adapt to new economic realities, among others, by changing the sector of economy to work in. Employment reductions have contributed to the increase of population migration. In conjunction with the natural loss it resulted in a decrease of the number of population and population aging. The support of the cities and sanitary facilities offered, among others, by social assistance centers and employment has great importance in overcoming the negative effects of the economic transformation.