The Transformation of Ukraine's Labour Market During the War: Facts and Figures

Migration and Unemployment

Since the start of the full-scale war, more than 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes; about 8 million went abroad – to Poland, Germany, the United States, France and other countries – while the rest were displaced within the country. This sharply increased demand for jobs in the western regions. According to the Ministry of Economy, unemployment reached 23% in 2022 – a record for recent years; many companies cut working hours or temporarily suspended operations.

Remote Work and IT

According to a survey by the Kyiv School of Economics, about 40% of companies moved employees to a remote format; this is most visible in the IT sector, where the shift made it possible to preserve jobs. The IT Ukraine Association recorded a 15% increase in industry vacancies compared with the pre-war period – driven by the spread of remote work, cybersecurity needs and demand for digital services.

Education and State Programmes

Universities and colleges are responding to new market demands by introducing courses in IT, cybersecurity, project management and related fields. The state has launched temporary employment programmes for internally displaced persons, employer subsidies, regional job creation initiatives and retraining programmes for the unemployed. These measures, in Katsuba's assessment, are shaping a new employment structure in Ukraine.