What salaries in Ukraine in May 2025: fresh figures and forecasts
13 May 2025 16:06
In May 2025, the wage situation in Ukraine has a complicated character. It has been shaped both by the economic challenges facing the country amid the war and some government initiatives, "Komersant Ukrainian" writes, citing information from the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
As of early 2025, the average gross wage in Ukraine is approximately UAH 25,732 (about $591), while the average net wage is UAH 20,328 (about $467). This reflects moderate growth compared to previous years. However, the inflation rate in the country remains high, which continues to reduce the real purchasing power of the population.
Based on the materials of the Inflation Report, the National Bank informs that businesses are actively looking for new employees and opening new vacancies. According to the surveys of enterprises, the shortage of personnel remains the main factor constraining their activities. It also encourages businesses to further increase wages, because the competition for qualified workers is quite tough. In 2024, real wages (i.e. after deducting last year’s inflation) increased by more than 15%, but salary increases continue this year as well.
Development of individual sectors
In the defense sector, the Ukrainian government has introduced a youth recruitment program that offers significant financial incentives. Young recruits can earn up to $2,900 monthly, receive a $24,000 bonus and access to interest-free mortgages. These figures are well above the national average salary, which aims to attract young people to rejuvenate the armed forces.
Other sectors such as IT and agriculture are experiencing different impacts. The IT industry continues to offer competitive salaries while agriculture is facing challenges due to ongoing conflicts affecting production and export opportunities.
Read also: The Ministry of Finance told what is the average salary in Ukraine today
Outlook
In the future, the dynamics of wages in Ukraine are likely to continue to be influenced by the economic situation in the country, the inflation rate and government policies. While targeted initiatives create opportunities for wage increases in certain sectors, general economic challenges may limit overall wage growth.
For individuals and businesses to navigate Ukraine’s changing economic landscape, it is important to stay abreast of developments in specific sectors and government programs.
The NBU predicts that the difficult labor market situation will persist for a long time, as even after the war ends, Ukraine will need a large number of workers to rebuild. Additional difficulties will arise due to regional differences and structural changes in the economy (sectoral redistribution, new demographic realities, etc.). Therefore, Ukraine will need both public and private initiatives to return migrants, adapt veterans to civilian life, and retool and retrain workers.
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