January 2026 Survey Findings from the Institute for Economic Research
In January 2026, the Institute for Economic Research conducted its 45th monthly survey, polling 491 Ukrainian industrial enterprises to identify the most significant business constraints. The primary obstacles reported were:
- Labor shortages
- Hazardous working conditions
- Unreliable power supply
- Rising costs for raw materials
- Declining consumer demand
- Logistical complications
The most critical issue remains the shortage of personnel, cited by 60% of respondents in January, a slight decrease from 62% in December. Specifically, 52.6% of companies reported difficulties finding qualified workers, while 32.5% faced a shortage of unskilled labor. Security risks ranked as the second most significant hurdle, with 54% of respondents in January identifying dangerous working conditions as a serious problem, down from 57% the previous month. Over 80% of companies in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, and Vinnytsia regions consider safety a major impediment.
Problems with energy supply were noted by 48% of those surveyed in January, up from 42% in December. The previous month, 60% of enterprises had to temporarily halt operations due to power cuts, resulting in an average loss of 10% of working hours. Rising prices for raw materials, supplies, and goods placed fourth in significance, flagged as a major obstacle by 45% of businesses in January, compared to 42% in December. Reduced demand for products and services was reported by 21% of businesses, while logistical difficulties were also cited by 21%, marking a 5-percentage-point increase.
The survey data reveals the extent of disruption from power outages: 27% of enterprises lost 1-10% of their working hours, 25% lost 11-25%, and 7% lost 26-50%. Only 5% of companies experienced no power cuts, while 35% managed to maintain continuous operations despite them. The worst impacts on working hours were observed in the Dnipropetrovsk region (36%), Zhytomyr (25%), Volyn (20%), Zaporizhzhia (19%), and Kyiv (11%).
Government Energy Support Package
Starting February 2, businesses can access a government energy support package. This initiative includes payments of up to 15,000 UAH to individual entrepreneurs and zero-interest loans for energy equipment.
These survey results underscore the persistent challenges confronting Ukrainian enterprises, particularly amid an unstable energy grid and a shrinking skilled workforce. The ongoing conflict has severely strained the country's infrastructure and labor market. The government's new support package, effective from February, may provide crucial relief for small and medium-sized businesses facing financial pressure. However, its effectiveness in mitigating the current economic hardships remains to be seen.