The 'START — Career' Campaign
Sweden is backing a new communications drive called 'START — Career,' jointly launched by the State Employment Service of Ukraine (SES) and Helvetas Ukraine. Aimed at young people between 18 and 25, the initiative seeks to connect them with job opportunities across the country, especially in the aftermath of the full-scale invasion.
Since the war began, over 700,000 young individuals have used SES services. Among them, one in three successfully found employment. Furthermore, nearly 50,000 young people completed professional training, opening up new career paths. An additional 14,000 received grants to start or expand their own businesses, boosting youth entrepreneurship.
Services Offered Under the Campaign
The 'START — Career' campaign is part of the broader 'Resilience: Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Labor Market in Ukraine' project, implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Participants can access a range of services, including:
- A unified job portal
- Career counseling and vocational guidance
- Free professional training and retraining
- Internships and first-job opportunities
- Grants for starting or growing a business
The campaign leverages social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to share success stories from young people. Additionally, an interactive landing page is being developed, featuring career guides, checklists, and a vocational orientation test. These tools are designed to help youth navigate their career choices and find their place in the labor market.
Launching this campaign marks a crucial step in supporting Ukrainian youth amid heightened economic challenges due to the war. By encouraging both employment and entrepreneurship, the initiative aims to play a key role in the country's economic recovery. Such projects open up new prospects for young people, which could positively impact the overall health of Ukraine's labor market.
As the 'START — Career' initiative aims to empower young Ukrainians, it's important to note that the government is also focusing on supporting older job seekers. A recent program specifically targets Ukrainians aged 50 and over, offering various employment opportunities and resources. To learn more about how this initiative complements the efforts to enhance the labor market across different age groups, visit the details of this new program.