Kyiv is experiencing an acute staffing crisis: there are 24 vacancies for every job seeker.
28 January 13:26
Kyiv has found itself at the epicenter of the most acute staffing crisis since the start of the full-scale war. As of now, there are 24 open vacancies for every job seeker in the capital, which is the highest rate among all regions of Ukraine. This is according to data from the State Employment Service of Ukraine, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
The scale of the problem is also confirmed by businesses: 74% of companies are experiencing a shortage of personnel. These are the results of a survey by the European Business Association.
Structural imbalance in the labor market
Despite the general shortage of personnel, the situation in different professional segments varies significantly. An analysis by Work.ua of 459 professions shows a clear structural imbalance in the capital’s labor market, writes Ekonomichna Pravda.
The greatest shortage is among blue-collar professions. In this segment, there are an average of five vacancies per resume, while in the category of office and other professions, there are 3.3 vacancies.
Critical shortage in the capital’s energy sector
The most acute situation is in the energy and utilities sector. In Kyiv, there are 39 times more vacancies than job seekers.
According to the Unified Job Portal, there are currently:
- 886 vacancies for mechanics;
- 465 vacancies for electricians.
These figures clearly illustrate the scale of the problem, which directly affects the speed of infrastructure restoration after Russian strikes.
Staff shortages on the ground
Earlier, Petro Kukuruza, chief engineer of one of the leading companies in the Obolonskyi district of Kyiv, said that the company was only 70% staffed.
“In six months, only one mechanic has joined the company. There are 59 employees aged 45-60 and 140 pensioners,” he said.
According to him, the situation has only worsened over the past year.
Salaries are rising, but there is a shortage of personnel
According to an analysis by Ekonomichna Pravda, the number of vacancies for blue-collar professions has grown by an average of 13% over the year, while in other specialties, it has remained almost unchanged.
The market is responding with higher wages:
- workers’ salaries have increased by an average of 27%;
- in the category of other professions — by 19%.
As a result, the level of pay has almost equalized: workers in Kyiv are offered an average of 34,000 UAH, while office and other professions are offered 36,000 UAH. The traditional notion that “lawyers and economists earn more” is gradually losing its relevance.
Who is growing and who is losing ground
Labor market analytics show clear trends:
- blue-collar professions (construction workers, welders, electricians) are showing steady growth in demand and salaries;
- The IT sector is under pressure — demand for programmers and testers is declining;
- artificial intelligence specialists remain the only office profession with explosive growth in demand.
How the state and business are responding to the crisis
The government and businesses are forced to adapt to the new realities. In particular:
- energy and certain utility companies can reserve up to 100% of their staff from mobilization;
- The Reskilling Ukraine program trains women and veterans in the professions of drivers, auto mechanics, and installers.
- with the assistance of the Employment Service, in 2025, 108 people (including 35 women) were trained as repair mechanics, and 56 people (20 women) were trained as electricians.
According to the EBA, 34% of companies plan to actively employ women in 2026, which may partially compensate for the labor shortage. At the same time, the Employment Service acknowledges that there has not yet been a mass transition of women into “traditionally male” professions.
Forecasts for 2026
According to estimates by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, by 2026 Ukraine will be short of 606,800 specialists and workers, and the total need for personnel to rebuild the country will be 4.5 million people.
For Kyiv, the shortage of personnel remains one of the key challenges, especially in the context of constant attacks on infrastructure. Overcoming the crisis requires a comprehensive approach — from rapid retraining and attracting foreign labor to process automation.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
