Ukraine is facing an acute labour shortage - the country lacks about 2 million workers. The State Employment Service has reported that to address this problem, the government plans to attract migrant workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Turkey.
Ukraine opens labour market to migrants
According to the State Employment Service, Ukraine is facing a critical labour shortage that is already holding back economic development. To address the labour shortage, the government plans to attract migrants from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Turkey. According to the service, to hire a migrant in Ukraine, an employer needs to spend about 150,000 hryvnias.
The shortage of staff is particularly noticeable in business: 62% vacancies remain unfilled, and 75% companies report an acute shortage of staff. According to the State Employment Service, this slows down the economy and exacerbates systemic labour market problems.
Causes and scope of the problem
The problem of staff shortages in Ukraine is complex. While in 2021, 1.2 million people (equally split between men and women) applied to the Employment Service, in 2025 this figure dropped to 600,000, of whom 80% were women. This indicates a decrease in the number of working-age people, in particular men, which further complicates the situation in the labour market.
The decline in the number of potential workers comes amid growing demand for labour, especially in areas requiring physical labour or technical specialities. The government has to look for alternative solutions, one of which is opening the market to migrant workers.
Cost and conditions for attracting migrants
According to the State Employment Service, It costs about 150 thousand hryvnias to hire a migrant worker in Ukraine. This amount includes the costs of legalisation, paperwork, health insurance and other necessary procedures. For many employers, this is a significant investment, but in the face of an acute shortage of staff, businesses are willing to make such expenditures.
It is expected that the attraction of migrants will partially compensate for the shortage of labour and stabilise the labour market. However, experts warn that this is only a temporary solution, and that systemic reforms in employment and education are needed to address the problem comprehensively.
Why it matters
The staff shortage is already affecting Ukraine's economy: companies are unable to expand production, launch new projects, and compete in the international market. Attracting labour migrants from Asia and Turkey may be a necessary step to maintain economic stability.
However, long-term economic security requires not only labour imports, but also incentives for the return of Ukrainian workers, the development of vocational education and the creation of attractive conditions for young people. The systemic problems of the labour market remain relevant, and their solution will be key to the country's future.
