Labor migrants in Ukraine will earn significantly below the average salary - expert
The shortage of workers in Ukraine is increasingly pushing businesses to attract labor migrants from Asian and African countries. Economists say that this is not about competing with Ukrainians for high-paying jobs but about closing the deficit of labor in construction and physical labor. Economist Andriy Dlihach reported this during a broadcast on Kyiv24.
Labor migrants in Ukraine may work for lower salaries
Economist Andriy Dlihach stated on the channel that workers from India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and other countries are ready to work for significantly less money than Ukrainians.
According to him, the difference in salaries can be:
20% less;
30% less;
sometimes even 40% less than the wages of Ukrainians.
Dlihach believes that a salary of 15,000 hryvnias may be sufficient motivation for such workers.
The economist explained that labor migrants often work under special conditions. In particular, employers may provide them with accommodation in dormitories and meals.
The shortage of labor in Ukraine increases the demand for foreigners
During the discussion, the host noted that it is difficult to live on 15,000 hryvnias in Ukraine. In response, Dlihach stated that for workers from poorer countries, a salary of around 400 dollars is significantly higher than their incomes at home.
The issue of labor migration has recently been actively discussed by government representatives as well. Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak previously stated that part of the staffing shortage can be compensated by automated systems.
At the same time, volunteer and founder of the charity fund Serhiy Prytula stated that workers from India, the Philippines, and Bangladesh are already arriving in Ukraine. They most often work in the construction sector.
Salaries in Ukraine and the demographic problem
Earlier, PR strategist Serhiy Didkovskyi noted that labor migrants alone cannot solve Ukraine's demographic problems. In his opinion, the key factor should be the increase in labor productivity.
In 2025, business ombudsman Roman Vashchuk also stated that for many residents of the world, moving to Ukraine could improve their quality of life. He emphasized that due to the emigration of Ukrainians and the shortage of workers in the market, vacancies for foreigners are emerging.
The problem of labor shortages in Ukraine has intensified since the beginning of the full-scale war. Part of the population has gone abroad, and another part has been mobilized into the army. As a result, businesses are increasingly looking for alternative ways to fill vacancies in areas where there is a shortage of personnel.
For the Ukrainian labor market, this means a gradual increase in competition in the low-skilled job segment, primarily in construction, logistics, and services. At the same time, employers receive an opportunity to partially compensate for the lack of workers.
It should be noted that in Ivano-Frankivsk, residents of one of the residential complexes were informed about the involvement of workers from India, which caused a stir.
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