Will Foreigners Displace Ukrainians from the Labor Market? What Employers Are Saying
17 July 17:15
OLX Robota surveyed Ukrainian employers’ attitudes toward hiring foreign workers as one possible way to overcome the labor shortage, according to "Komersant Ukrainian", which cites an OLX Robota press release.
Although the labor shortage continues to worsen and most companies expect the situation to deteriorate further, businesses remain reluctant to consider hiring foreign workers. The study examines how employers assess the prospects of the labor market, what barriers they see to hiring foreign workers, and what might prompt them to reconsider their position.
78% of employers are already experiencing a labor shortage
The labor shortage remains one of the main challenges for Ukrainian businesses. According to a study by OLX Robota, in 2026, 78% of employers reported experiencing a shortage of workers. By comparison, last year, 60% of companies cited a labor crisis.
At the same time, businesses are becoming increasingly less optimistic about the future of the labor market. In fact, 68% of employers believe that the labor shortage will worsen over the next year. Only 10% are convinced that the labor crisis will gradually disappear.
By comparison, in 2025, 40% of employers gave a negative forecast for the labor market, while nearly a third of companies (29%) expected a gradual improvement.
Hiring foreign workers has not yet become a popular solution to the labor shortage
Despite the deepening labor crisis, most Ukrainian employers do not yet view hiring foreign workers as a solution to the problem. Only 8% of companies stated that they are willing to consider hiring foreign workers if the labor shortage worsens further. A year ago, the percentage of such employers was even higher—13%.
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This indicates that Ukrainian businesses are currently seeking other ways to address the labor shortage and do not view the international labor market as a major source of new employees.
Why Employers Are Not Considering Hiring Foreign Workers
Ukrainian companies cite the language barrier as the biggest obstacle to hiring foreign workers. In 2026, 51% of employers cited this as a barrier. By comparison, last year this figure stood at just 27%.
Another 42% of respondents are convinced that there is currently no need for foreign workers in their industry.
According to a study by OLX Robota, other barriers include:
- 32% — legal complications (permits, registration, visas), compared to 18% in 2025;
- 28% — lack of experience working with foreign workers;
- 28% — cultural and organizational differences;
- 19% — lack of internal readiness or support from the team;
- 14% — not knowing where to find suitable candidates.
Interestingly, compared to last year, employers have begun to mention practical difficulties in integrating foreign workers—such as language adaptation, legal procedures, and cultural differences—much more frequently.
We’re also seeing some wariness among job seekers, despite the absence of a clear influx of foreign workers into Ukraine. This is particularly evident against the backdrop of discussions on the topic in social media. One factor is the perception that the interests of Ukrainian citizens are not a priority ( 56% of job-seeking respondents noted this). Other common responses included the language barrier (46%) and cultural and religious differences ( 41%).
What Might Cause Businesses to Reconsider Their Position
Despite their “cautious” attitude toward hiring foreign workers, employers cite a number of factors that could cause them to reconsider their position.
Most often, businesses mention tax breaks or financial incentives for employers—36% of respondents selected this option. An equal number of companies note that they would more actively consider hiring foreign workers if the shortage of Ukrainian workers were to worsen. Another 29% of employers would like to have guarantees regarding candidates’ qualifications and certifications.
Nearly a quarter of those surveyed consider simplifying hiring procedures to be important, while 22% mention the need for specialized programs for recruiting foreign personnel and positive examples from other companies.
This indicates that for many employers, the issue is not so much the hiring of foreign workers itself as it is the creation of clear and secure mechanisms for their recruitment.
“Businesses’ willingness to hire foreign workers remains limited for now. It is also important to take demographic factors into account. A significant portion of Ukrainians who have left the country due to the full-scale war do not plan* to return in the near future or are considering returning only after the hostilities end and the economic situation stabilizes. Under these conditions, the labor shortage could become a long-term challenge for Ukrainian businesses.
That is precisely why the issue of recruiting foreign workers is gradually shifting from the theoretical to the practical realm. However, for this approach to be effective, efforts must be made to simplify hiring procedures, facilitate employee adaptation, and establish clear rules for the integration of foreign specialists into the Ukrainian labor market. It is also important that the return and employment of Ukrainians currently living abroad remain a priority,” comments Maria Abdullina, Head of OLX Robota.
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