Ukraine is facing a critical labour shortage that threatens to cause a large-scale staffing collapse after the war. Economists and employers agree that without hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, economic recovery will be impossible. There is a particularly acute shortage of workers in construction, agriculture and industry.
Briefly about the main points
- Ukraine lacks about 4.5 million workers to return to the level of 2021.
- Only 10-15% of the Ukrainians who left in 2022 will return after the war.
- Every year, we need to attract 400-450 thousand labour migrants, especially in construction, the agricultural sector and industry.
- About 300,000 foreign workers already work in Ukraine under the official procedure.
Large-scale labour shortage in Ukraine
Ukraine needs about 4.5 million additional workers to restore its economic performance in 2021. According to the official statistics The Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that approximately 8.5 million people have fled the country since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, of whom 5 million are working age. Forecasts suggest that only 10-15% of these people will return, and this percentage is decreasing with the duration of the war.
The need for labour migrants after the war
According to the economist Oleg Pendzin, Ukraine will have to attract 400,000 to 450,000 foreign workers annually, mostly for low-skilled labour in construction, agriculture and industry. Director of the Institute of Demography Ella Libanova confirms that it will be impossible to overcome the staff shortage without large-scale recruitment of foreign workers. It emphasises the need to develop a balanced migration policy.
Ukrainian experience of employing foreigners
Before the war, about 300,000 people worked in Ukraine foreign employees. The law “On employment of the population” regulates the procedure for issuing permits for foreigners arriving for work. The head of the law firm Anna Daniel clarifies that an employer submits an application to the employment centre, attaching passport documents, a draft employment contract and other necessary documents depending on the category of employee. Lawyer. Igor Tarasenko emphasises that formalisation is key to protecting employers from fines.
Labour market: vacancies and structural problems
As of the beginning of May 2026, the “A single job portal” posted 230,000 vacancies, while 141,000 job seekers were registered. The largest number of vacancies are in trade, industry, transport, hospitality, finance and medicine. At the same time, a significant proportion of the unemployed have an education that does not meet the needs of the market. This mismatch exacerbates structural unemployment, when vacancies exist but cannot be filled due to a lack of relevant skills.
Retraining and attracting new categories of employees
Through mobilisation and men travelling abroad The state supports programmes for retraining women for traditionally male professions, as well as internships for people aged 50+. The programme “Experience matters” involves training, meetings with employers and internships with subsequent employment. Experts believe that although these initiatives are important, they will not be able to radically change the situation without the involvement of migrants.
The impact of migrants on the economy and risks
Attracting foreign workers is seen as one of the crucial factors in overcoming the staffing crisis. At the same time, the country's leadership is working to revise the list of migration risk countries, as there are concerns that official employment may be used for illegal stay. This policy should take into account not only the quantity but also the quality of workers to ensure the stability and development of the economy.
Prospects and challenges
The National Bank of Ukraine's forecasts do not foresee a massive Return of Ukrainians from abroad by 2027. The labour shortage will worsen unless approaches to recruitment are changed and different groups of the population, including veterans, people with disabilities and older workers, are engaged. Overall, the country's post-war reconstruction will depend on how effectively migrant workers are integrated and existing workers are retrained.
