The Ukrainian labor market finds itself in a contradictory situation: companies are cutting job vacancies and staff, but at the same time cannot find specialists for certain professions. According to Work.ua, in September the number of job vacancies was 15% lower than a year ago. At the same time, 75% of enterprises are experiencing a shortage of workers.
About the changes in employment and salaries, reports Minfin.
Reduction of job vacancies in Ukraine: who can business lay off in 2026
Due to Russian attacks, companies are losing production capacities, warehouses, stores, and logistics centers. Some enterprises are forced to reduce staff. Companies such as 'Ukrzaliznytsia', 'Epicenter', and Fozzy have announced layoffs. 'Epicenter' has already reduced around 7,000 jobs due to the attacks.
According to Work.ua, in September there were 82,533 job vacancies in Ukraine, compared to 96,873 during the same period last year. According to Rabota.ua, in the last month, job offerings have decreased in several cities:
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in Kropyvnytskyi – by 13%;
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in Chernihiv – by 12%;
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in Kyiv – by 10%;
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in Rivne – by 9%;
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in Vinnytsia – by 8%;
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in Odesa – by 7%.
Advisor to the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, Rodion Kolyshko, does not rule out that cuts may intensify. Office workers, middle management, marketers, PR specialists, sales personnel, and production workers are at risk.
It is already noticeable in the labor market that salary growth does not always increase the number of candidates. Thus, even in sectors where employers are willing to pay more, finding the right vacancy may take longer.
Labor shortage and job search: who struggles to find a vacancy
A smaller number of advertisements does not mean that there is a lack of work in all areas. In production, agriculture, construction, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, companies find it difficult to fill vacancies. Among the specialists most in demand are drivers, seamstresses, electricians, gas welders, locksmiths, medical workers, and pharmacists.
According to the State Employment Service, in September, there were 14 vacancies per 10 potential candidates. However, the situation varies by region:
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in Kyiv – 17 vacancies for 10 applicants;
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in Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv regions – 2 vacancies each;
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in Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kherson regions, candidates outnumbered vacancies by two times;
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in Donetsk region, the number of candidates exceeded the number of vacancies sixfold.
The average salary of full-time employees from January to July exceeded 30,000 hryvnias. However, experts warn that due to cutbacks in retail, logistics, and metallurgy, the pace of salary increases may slow down. At the same time, demand for job vacancies changed in 2026: for some proposals, there are more responses, although the shortage of workers in several industries remains.