Salary at 80000 UAH: employers are hunting for several categories of workers in 2026

Ukrainian employers are increasingly raising salaries and offering additional bonuses to attract skilled workers. In some industries, the salary level already reaches 80 thousand UAH per month, but even such amounts do not solve the problem of acute labor shortages. 

This is reported by OBOZ.UA with reference to labor market data and employment services.

Which vacancies offer the highest salaries

Today, employers are willing to pay the highest salaries to representatives of technical professions.

Automotive mechanics and auto technicians are the leaders in terms of pay. Experienced car repair specialists can expect to earn up to 80 thousand UAH per month.

There is also a high demand for welders. Installing and manufacturing companies offer them up to 60 thousand UAH, and often additionally cover housing, travel, and food expenses.

Among the highest-paid vacancies are technical supervision engineers with salaries of up to 58 thousand UAH and some managers and narrow specialists who can earn around 69 thousand UAH per month.

Who employers are really hunting for

The biggest labor shortage is observed in the transportation sector, industry, construction, and agriculture.

Among the professions where demand consistently exceeds supply:

• drivers of motor vehicles;
• welders;
• electrical engineers;
• tractor drivers;
• special machinery operators;
• medical workers;
• fitters;
• electromechanics.

In addition, employers are actively looking for salespeople, cooks, seamstresses, accountants, and auxiliary workers.

Why businesses are forced to raise salaries

The main reason for the labor shortage is the lack of workforce. Some Ukrainians are serving in the security and defense sector, many citizens have gone abroad or changed their place of residence.

As a result, companies are forced to compete not only in salaries but also in additional benefits.

Among the most common bonuses:

• free housing;
• company transport;
• travel expenses;
• daily allowances;
• training at the employer's expense;
• special clothing and tools;
• opportunity for career development.

Experts note that the problem of labor shortages may worsen after the war ends, when hundreds of thousands of additional workers will be needed to restore the country.

Earlier, we wrote that the real average salary in Ukraine is less than 20000 UAH.