Ukrainians aged 50 and older will receive help finding jobs: what the new program entails
6 April 11:28
Ukraine plans to launch a program to support the employment of people aged 50 and older. The initiative is called “Experience Matters” and is designed to help older people re-enter or establish themselves in the labor market, while encouraging businesses to make hiring such employees standard practice. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine announced the program, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The idea for the program arose against the backdrop of two simultaneous problems in the Ukrainian labor market: a labor shortage and an age imbalance. The ministry notes that professionals aged 50 and older are often excluded from the hiring process due to stereotypes, even though they possess experience, skills, and the motivation to work.
That is why the project is aimed not only at helping job seekers themselves but also at changing employers’ approaches.
What the “Experience Matters” program entails
The program includes several practical support tools. For participants aged 50 and older, it offers training sessions, assistance with resume preparation, pre-interview consultations, quick meetings with employers, and short-term internships lasting up to 10 days.
The project’s concept also includes flexible work schedules, workplace adaptations for some employees, and broader implementation of European approaches to the employment of older adults.
Simply put, this is not just about finding job openings, but about a person’s complete path to employment: from preparation to meeting with an employer and a trial period through a short internship.
This is how the ministry is trying to reduce the barriers that people over 50 often face even before their first interview.
When will the program launch?
The pilot implementation is scheduled for 2026. The government has already included the “Experience Matters” project in the package of decisions from the so-called Labor Cabinet, which focuses on labor market development and addressing labor shortages.
What are the organizers’ goals
As part of the pilot, the plan is to involve up to 500 employers and secure at least 1,300 job placements. The program is also intended to help form a pool of companies that will test the new “mature hiring” model and create more effective HR tools for the rapid recruitment of older workers.
If the model proves effective, there are plans to scale it up nationwide.
Why the program was launched now
The Ministry of Economy explicitly states that the Ukrainian labor market is currently undergoing systemic restructuring. Labor shortages, a mismatch between skills and employer needs, difficulties in getting people back into the workforce, and a lack of modern services are forcing the government to seek new forms of support. In this context, people over 50 are viewed as a large pool of experienced workers that the market has often underestimated in the past.
That is why the government is talking about creating a culture of hiring older workers. The goal is for age to no longer be perceived as a disadvantage, but rather for experience to become a competitive advantage.
What this means for people over 50 and for businesses
For older people, the program offers not only access to job openings but also tangible support at every stage of the job search. For businesses, it is an effort to demonstrate that hiring people over 50 can be a standard part of HR policy rather than an exception. The government explicitly states that the goal is to make the labor market more inclusive, flexible, and oriented toward the real needs of the economy.
