The difference between salaries in Europe and Ukraine intensifies competition for workers. According to economist Oleksandr Kostiuk, the annual salary figure in Ukraine is approximately 6.3 times lower than the average in the EU, creating long-term migration risks. Kostiuk writes about this on Facebook.
Salaries in Ukraine and the EU: what the comparison shows for 2025
According to data published on November 6 by Eurostat, the average annual salary of a worker in the EU, adjusted for full employment, in 2025 was 41,500 euros. This figure refers to an indicator where part-time employment pay is converted to an equivalent full-time.
The highest amounts were recorded in Luxembourg, 85,600 euros a year, and Denmark, 73,500 euros. The lowest figures among EU countries were in Bulgaria, 16,200 euros, Greece, 18,800 euros, and Hungary, 20,100 euros.
For Ukraine, Kostiuk provides an estimated figure of 6,600 euros per year, calculated based on data from the State Statistics Service and the NBU exchange rate. This is about 16% of the EU average and approximately 41% of the Bulgarian figure.
The Ukrainian figure is an author's calculation, not a figure for Ukraine in the Eurostat table. Without a uniform comparison methodology, the ratio of 6.3 should be seen as a guideline. It also does not mean the same difference in purchasing power: taxes, prices, and housing costs differ.
At the same time, such a gap in nominal pay complicates competition for people. Ukrainian employers are already facing a shortage of qualified workers, and higher incomes abroad remain one of the factors influencing job selection.
Salary gap: why it affects the return of Ukrainians
According to Kostiuk, the main risk is that labor migration is gradually transforming into long-term relocation. A person chooses not only salary but also professional prospects, social protection, and a family environment.
For young people, the decision to work abroad may later determine the birthplace and upbringing of their children. Therefore, Ukraine risks losing not only current workers and taxpayers but also part of its future labor potential, warns the economist.
Kostiuk also emphasizes the costs of education. Ukraine funds the training of specialists, but if they work in another country, a significant portion of the added value and labor taxes they create remains there.
Reducing the gap solely by increasing nominal salaries is difficult. The economist links sustainable income growth with productivity, investment, technology, and the quality of jobs. Simply calling for a return, in his opinion, is not enough.
To assess the prospects for return, it is important to compare not only salaries but also living expenses. However, affordable housing and lower prices alone do not eliminate the need for stable employment, professional development, and savings opportunities.