The purpose of this study is to determine the role of mass labor migration in the economic development of a recipient country using the example of the Russian Federation. The key issue is the assessment of the economic effect of attracting labor migrants for the economies of the recipient countries, determining the share of GDP created by migrants. It reveals the impact of legal and illegal migration on the formation of revenues and expenditures of the consolidated state budget, as well as evasion from established payments by a part of foreign labor representing the shadow economy. A negative factor is the massive transfer of funds to the main countries of residence of migrants, which reduces the efficiency of the use of GDP within the national economy. The reasons for the low efficiency in the use of migrant labor are identified, and the passive role of the state in regulating migrant flows is noted. Proposed areas of work, eliminating the listed disadvantages.