Due to the labor force depletion caused by the war with Russia, Ukrainian companies have started to hire more women to fill critical job vacancies traditionally dominated by men, while also taking measures to attract teenagers, students, and older workers.
One 40-year-old woman who recently landed a job as a truck driver expressed her excitement, saying, “I have always dreamt of driving a big truck. The current situation is that they are hiring inexperienced individuals and providing training. I am very fortunate.”
According to data from the National Bank of Ukraine, the country has lost more than a quarter of its workforce since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
A survey conducted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy among over 3,000 companies revealed that nearly 60% of businesses stated that finding skilled workers is their main challenge.
One of Ukraine’s largest employers, the steel company Metinvest, with around 45,000 employees, currently has about 4,000 vacancies.
A spokesperson for the company stated, “The situation is indeed critical, and we can feel the impact of the employee shortage on production. It’s not just us feeling the employee shortage; companies in all regions are facing this issue, including our contractors.”
In response to the challenges posed by employee shortages and mismatches in skills, Ukrainian enterprises are altering their recruitment and business practices. Methods include accelerating automation, rotating existing employees, rehiring retirees, and offering more benefits, especially targeting young workers.
They also have had to raise wages. The current average monthly salary is around 20,000 hryvnias (approximately $470), compared to 14,500 hryvnias a year ago.
Industries traditionally dominated by men such as construction, transportation, and mining are particularly affected by labor shortages. Companies in these sectors are now starting to hire women, leading to the emergence of female miners and female bus drivers in Ukraine.
In the agriculturally developed southern region of Mykolayiv, women are undergoing training to operate tractors. The number of women working as tram and truck drivers, coal miners, security guards, and warehouse workers is gradually increasing.
Ukraine’s largest retailer, Fozzy Group, is offering training and employment opportunities for inexperienced women.
The company currently has six female truck drivers, including the one mentioned earlier, and is more actively recruiting women for roles such as loaders, meat cutters, packers, and security personnel.
The proportion of female employees in industries like steel production is on the rise. Female workers make up approximately 30% to 35% of the workforce at Metinvest.
However, for many women seeking employment, finding someone to help care for their children is a challenge before they can work securely.
After working for 15 days, the female truck driver mentioned earlier moved back to her parents’ home so they could assist in caring for her two children.
Employers are also turning their attention to young people, providing them with training, work experience, and tailored benefit packages.
For example, steel company Metinvest is increasingly collaborating with vocational colleges. Fozzy Group is actively hiring teenagers for entry-level positions at supermarkets and has introduced professional internship programs for students.
Mobile phone operator Vodafone has revamped its youth program, offering around 50 teenagers from 12 cities the opportunity to gain initial work experience.
Analysts suggest that with millions of Ukrainians, primarily women and children, fleeing overseas due to the war, and tens of thousands of men being conscripted, the job crisis may threaten Ukraine’s economic growth and post-war recovery.
The Ukrainian government and foreign partners have initiated various projects to help Ukrainians acquire new job skills.
(This article references relevant reports from Reuters)