Labor market under pressure: utilities and healthcare workers are most in short supply – research
13 May 2025 14:21
The demand for workers is growing, while the number of those who are ready to be officially employed is decreasing. This is evidenced by the results of the study “Assessment of the Labor Market of Ukraine 2024-2025” conducted by Helvetas Ukraine in cooperation with the State Employment Service and the Federation of Employers, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to Helvetas Ukraine, 31.7% of employers reported that they had difficulties finding staff last year.
Which industries are the most problematic
The shortage of personnel is particularly noticeable in the following areas:
– Water supply – 53% of survey participants reported difficulties in the process of finding staff.
– Healthcare – 46.2%.
– Energy – 44.1%.
– Mining – 42%.
– Education – 40%.
– Agriculture – 39%.
How employers explain such difficulties
Dmytro Kokhan, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Agrarian Council (UAC), outlined the main challenges during the presentation of the survey results.
“In all the surveys we conduct among the UAC members, the labor market issues are consistently among the most pressing. First of all, it is a shortage of personnel, especially qualified specialists. But frankly speaking, the main problem is mobilization,” noted Dmytro Kokhan.
He emphasized that, of course, the defense of the country and the protection of Ukrainian land is a priority. At the same time, the agricultural sector, like many other sectors of the economy, is already experiencing acute staffing pressure caused by mobilization processes.
Urbanization and the outflow of young people from rural areas are also serious challenges, particularly for the agricultural sector, which makes it difficult to find personnel locally.
What kind of workers are currently in short supply
According to the survey, 32% of businesses plan to hire employees this year to fill vacancies.
The most popular professions in the labor market were the following:
– Tractor driver
– Locksmith-repairman
– Electric and gas welder
– Electrician
– Nurse
– Rolling stock repairman
– Driver
– Seamstress
Almost 55,000 employers employing more than 4.2 million people took part in the labor market survey.
As a reminder, LIGA.net has been identifying the largest employers in Ukraine and tracking personnel dynamics for a long time.
In 2025, the list of the largest employers is headed by Ukrzaliznytsia, and it has been so for the fourth year in a row. However, the total number of employees of the company, which currently stands at 178,616, continues to decline: minus 9,000 employees per year.
ATB-Market holds the second place with more than 46,000 employees. The company has been growing steadily and created about 2,000 new jobs in 2024 alone thanks to the development of its sales network and logistics.
Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine, a newcomer to the top 3, showed the fastest growth: plus 12.5% over the year to almost 38,000 employees.
