80% of unemployed people are women: why the government wants to change the situation on the labor market
12 March 08:50
Ukraine is launching the second wave of the national information campaign “Of course you can!” aimed at encouraging women to become more active in the labor market. The initiative is being launched by UN Women together with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, according to a statement by the Ministry of Economy, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
The government explains that in the context of war, the economy is facing an acute shortage of personnel, and the involvement of women in various sectors of work is seen as one of the key ways to overcome this.
Why the state is betting on women
According to the ministry, women account for more than 80% of registered unemployed people in Ukraine.
That is why increasing their participation in the economy has become one of the priorities of state policy, enshrined in the Employment Strategy of Ukraine until 2030.
Officials note that the war has only exacerbated the barriers to women’s employment, from a lack of jobs to difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities.
The gender gap has begun to widen again
International studies also confirm the problems in the labor market. According to Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5), the gender pay gap, which had been gradually narrowing before the full-scale invasion, began to widen again after 2022.
This means that, on average, women receive less pay for their work than men, and access to certain professions remains limited for them.
Young women are the most vulnerable group
The situation of young people is a particular problem.
According to government estimates:
- one in five Ukrainians aged 15–29 is not working,
- is not in education or vocational training.
About 70% of this group are young women, which indicates a particularly high risk of them dropping out of the labor market.
Platform for work and study
As part of the campaign, the online platform youcan.com.ua has been launched, bringing together state and international support programs.
The idea behind the platform is to create a “route of opportunities” for women, which will help them find:
- retraining courses
- programs for starting a business
- job offers
- employment counseling.
New professions opening up for women
The campaign organizers also emphasize the changing professional roles.
More and more women are starting to work in fields that were previously considered traditionally “male,” including:
- demining
- driving buses and heavy machinery
- energy
- operating industrial machinery.
Deputy Minister of Economy Daria Marchak emphasizes that greater involvement of women in the economy is an important condition for overcoming the labor shortage during the war.
Internationally supported campaign
The information campaign is being implemented by UN Women together with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine with financial support from the governments of:
- Denmark
- Canada
- Croatia
- Sweden
The first phase of the campaign in 2024–2025 focused primarily on the gender pay gap.
