Robota.ua Study: One-Third of Ukrainian Job Seekers Reject Listings Without a Stated Salary

Trends in Ukraine's Labor Market

According to ХВИЛЯ: A new study from the Ukrainian job platform robota.ua reveals a significant shift in candidate expectations. The research, which surveyed over 11,000 participants, found that 33% of respondents categorically ignore job postings that do not specify a salary, opting instead for vague phrases like 'to be discussed at the interview.' This highlights a growing demand for pay transparency among Ukrainian job seekers. For context, this trend aligns with a broader global movement where salary disclosure is becoming a key factor in job applications. The study also noted that only 23% of candidates currently state their desired salary in their own resumes.

Reasons for Withholding Salary Expectations

Among the minority who do state a desired salary, 58% do so to filter out irrelevant offers with low pay. However, many candidates prefer to remain silent about compensation until an interview. The primary reasons for this hesitation include:

• 45% want to hear the employer's offer first;
• 28% fear undervaluing themselves or scaring off a company with demands that are too high;
• 10% have difficulty calculating their market worth.

Currently, just over half of the job postings on robota.ua include open salary data. Denis Pisarev, the platform's Product Manager, observed:

'We are observing real changes: vacancies with a stated salary receive significantly more responses.'

Experts emphasize that the 'negotiable salary' approach is gradually losing its effectiveness. Marina Golovko, Head of the Personnel Management Expertise Department, added:

'Transparency is an opportunity to strengthen an employer's brand and build a culture of trust even before the recruiter's first call.'

The study confirms a clear trend toward greater transparency in job advertisements, which is likely to positively impact Ukraine's labor market. This growing demand for salary openness may prompt employers to adjust how they formulate job postings, potentially improving working conditions and attracting more qualified candidates. This shift is also expected to help reduce pay inequality and increase overall employee satisfaction.