employee
Against the backdrop of global labor shortages and transforming employment models (ILO, 2024), the concept of virtual migration – labor mobility without physical relocation – is becoming increasingly relevant. The article systematizes theoretical approaches to this phenomenon and identifies key factors driving the transformation of the global labor market in the digital age. The research methodology is based on a critical literature review and the construction of an integrative three-level model (micro, meso, and macro levels). The author proposes a definition of the phenomenon as a conscious and sustained process of cross-border integration facilitated by digital platforms. The study highlights technological and institutional drivers of mobility and analyzes cascading effects, including shifts in the international division of labor and the emergence of the "presence paradox." The theoretical significance lies in the synthesis of migration studies with platform economy frameworks. Practical implications justify the need for harmonizing international regulations and protecting the rights of virtual migrants.
virtual migration, digital labor mobility, remote work, digital labor platforms, global labor market, platform economy, geo-arbitrage, jobs gap, cross-border employment, platform sovereignty, precariatization
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