Ukraine is experiencing a critical labor shortage, currently estimated at around 30%. As noted by the head of the Migration Policy Office, Vasyl Voskoboynyk, the country is lacking approximately 8.6 to 8.7 million workers, which significantly impacts the economy.
This is reported by Finway
Scale of Labor Migration and Labor Market Needs
According to the expert, labor migration to Ukraine has not yet gained significant momentum. In the first half of 2025, Ukrainian authorities issued only 4,000 work permits for foreigners. Even if this figure rises to 10,000 by the end of the year, such numbers will only cover a small fraction of the overall demand for workers.
“This is a negligible number, even if by the end of the year 10,000 labor migrants receive work permits in Ukraine. This will only replace a tiny fraction of a percent of the total need for labor,” emphasized Voskoboynyk.
Staff Shortages in Key Sectors
The issue of worker shortages is particularly acute in the fields of education, healthcare, and construction, where 40% of vacancies remain unfilled. More and more companies are reporting the inability to find the necessary specialists for open positions. In response to this situation, labor migrants from countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Colombia are beginning to enter the Ukrainian labor market, gradually filling the staffing gap.
As of the beginning of the year, there are officially 306,000 foreigners residing in Ukraine, indicating a gradual increase in international participation in the Ukrainian labor market.