Labour market in Ukraine: 225,000 job vacancies and a shortage of qualified personnel

As of early October 2026, approximately 225,000 current job offers were published on the Unified Job Portal. This resource aggregates data from the State Employment Service and other Ukrainian platforms. The main demand for labour is concentrated in the trade, industry, and transport sectors, with some specialists able to expect monthly incomes of up to 160,000 hryvnia.

Structure of labour demand

The trade sector remains the leader in the number of vacancies, accounting for approximately 35,000 offers, or 16% of the total volume. Significant demand is also maintained in industry (approximately 20,000 vacancies) and the transport sector (approximately 17,000). Ten thousand vacancies each were registered in the healthcare sector and the financial sector with audit activities.

The list of in-demand professions varies by sector:

• In trade and services, employers are looking for salespeople, administrators, chefs, and bakers.
• Manufacturing requires fitters, electricians, electrical fitters, seamstresses, and mechanics.
• Transport and logistics companies are hiring drivers, packers, and freight forwarders.

Demand is also maintained for engineers, accountants, doctors, teachers, nurses, and technologists. Meanwhile, the market offers jobs for individuals without professional qualifications, including loaders, cleaners, storekeepers, and auxiliary workers.

Financial terms for technical specialists

The highest wage levels have been recorded for technical specialists and representatives of blue-collar professions. According to the data, maximum offers in individual vacancies reach the following amounts:

• Engineers – up to 160,000 hryvnia.
• Drivers – up to 85,000 hryvnia.
• Tractor drivers – up to 80,000 hryvnia.
• Mechanics – up to 65,000 hryvnia.
• Electricians – up to 60,000 hryvnia.

It is important to note that these figures reflect the upper limit of salary offers in specific vacancies, not the average statistical salary for the profession. The actual amount of remuneration depends on the candidate's experience, qualifications, complexity of tasks, region of employment, and the specific employer's terms. For example, a driver's income may vary significantly depending on the vehicle category, route, and schedule, while for engineers, the key factors are specialisation and level of responsibility.

Wages in IT, real estate, and HR

Competitive salary offers are present not only in the manufacturing sector. According to data provided by the Director of the State Employment Service, indicative figures in other sectors are formed as follows:

• Real estate sector – approximately 43,000 hryvnia.
• Human resources management – approximately 42,000 hryvnia.
• Telecommunications and information technology – approximately 35,000 hryvnia.

These figures do not necessarily reflect an equal wage level for all positions in the respective sectors. Earnings in real estate may depend on sales results and commissions, while income in the IT sector depends on specialisation and task complexity.

Causes of the personnel shortage

Employers are increasingly facing difficulties in finding staff with the necessary skills. If previously competition mostly existed between candidates for vacancies, now enterprises are forced to invest more resources in attracting qualified workers. The personnel shortage is caused by a complex of factors: the full-scale war, mobilisation, forced displacement of the population, and the departure of some citizens abroad.

Additional pressure on the labour market is created by the needs of the industrial, energy, transport, and construction sectors, especially in the context of restoring damaged infrastructure. It is most difficult for enterprises to find specialists who require special training, practical experience, or professional permits for their work. It is not always possible to quickly replace an experienced electrical fitter, mechanic, or engineer with a worker lacking the corresponding skills.

Under these conditions, employers focus on candidates' practical skills and their willingness to learn. Some companies consider applicants from adjacent professions or offer additional training. Despite the large number of vacancies, a gap persists in the market between job seekers' skills and employers' requirements, leading to a situation where some enterprises cannot fill positions for a long time, while some candidates continue to search for a suitable job.