Ukraine is not attractive to labor migrants in 2026: expert Voskoboynik

Despite the active dissemination on social networks of reports about the allegedly mass influx of labor migrants to Ukraine, the real situation looks quite different. Due to the war, lower wages, and security risks, the country today remains one of the least attractive for foreign workers. This was stated by Vasyl Voskoboynik, president of the Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies.

Ukraine's main migration problem is the outflow of its own citizens

According to the expert, in recent months, statements about a future "population replacement" and the mass relocation of citizens from Asia and Africa to Ukraine have been actively circulated in the information space.

However, the real problem for the state lies not in the influx of foreigners, but in the loss of its own population due to the war.

Millions of Ukrainians left for abroad after the full-scale invasion began, so one of the key challenges for the country remains their return after the end of hostilities.

Why foreigners are in no hurry to work in Ukraine

Vasyl Voskoboynik emphasizes that today Ukraine is objectively not an attractive destination for labor migration.

Among the main reasons are:

• ongoing war and security risks;

• lower wage levels compared to EU countries;

• difficult logistics and transport connections;

• uncertainty regarding the future security situation.

Under such conditions, foreign workers more often choose Western European countries where they can earn higher incomes and have more stable living conditions.

What the return of Ukrainians home depends on

According to the expert, the main factor for citizens' return remains security issues.

This is not only about the end of hostilities but also about long-term guarantees of state protection, the effectiveness of the defense system, and people's confidence that there will be no new large-scale aggression.

Voskoboynik also noted that many reports about the alleged mass preparation of foreigners to move to Ukraine are based on unverified data, manipulations, or materials created using artificial intelligence.

According to him, claims about millions of labor migrants supposedly preparing to enter Ukraine do not reflect the real situation and have no factual confirmation.

It should be noted that in May 2026, only 9,500 migrants are working in Ukraine.