Agricultural labor market 2025: record salaries and new trends
15 August 22:39
Over the past year, wages in the agricultural sector of Ukraine have increased by an average of 15%, according to OLX Job analysts. Despite the military situation and the difficult economic situation, agriculture and forestry demonstrate a stable demand for labor, maintaining the status of one of the key segments of the Ukrainian labor market, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
In July 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, median salaries increased in almost all key agricultural specialties. The most noticeable increase was among tractor drivers – from UAH 25,000 to UAH 30,000, which corresponds to an increase of 20%. Sawmillers’ incomes grew even more dynamically, from UAH 23,500 to UAH 30,000 (28%).
Agronomists received a more modest increase of 4% (from UAH 24,000 to UAH 25,000), while the average salary for other professions in the industry rose from UAH 19,000 to UAH 20,000 (5%). According to labor market analysts, this reflects a global trend: the shortage of skilled workers is driving faster salary growth in manufacturing professions than in administrative or managerial ones.
Competition is growing: there are more responses to vacancies
Demand for agricultural workers remains high, especially during the period of active field work. In July 2025, there was an average of almost 23 responses per vacancy, while a year ago this figure was 20. Tractor drivers remain the most popular among employers, and agronomists are of the greatest interest to job seekers.
Experts explain that the high number of responses indicates significant competition between candidates. This, in turn, gives employers more opportunities for recruitment, but at the same time forces them to raise salaries and offer additional bonuses to attract experienced workers.
Read also: Salaries of UAH 35-40 thousand: the reality of Ukrainians or the Government’s forecast on paper?
Mobilization reservations are growing, but opportunities are still limited
One of the key indicators closely monitored by market participants is the share of vacancies with mobilization reservations. In July 2025, such ads on OLX accounted for 7% of the total number in the Agriculture and Forestry category, which is 6.2 times more than a year ago (1%).
Although this figure remains relatively low, its growth emphasizes the strategic importance of the agricultural sector for the country’s economy. At the same time, employers in the agricultural sector have fewer opportunities to hire employees than companies in other industries due to the specifics of legislative regulation.
Analysts predict that in the coming months the agricultural sector will continue to demonstrate stable demand for labor. Rising wages, high competition for vacancies, and an increase in the number of job offers form the prerequisites for further development of the industry.
According to experts who study trends in the agricultural sector, agriculture in Ukraine is one of the few sectors that can maintain stable production and jobs even during the war.
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