The President of the TERWIN Corporation, founder of EVA and VARUS, Ruslan Shostak, notes that staff shortages in Ukraine have become a key factor in economic transformations in 2025. Even before the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in 2022, Ukraine had about 17.3 million working-age individuals. However, approximately 4.8 million people have left the civilian labor market due to participation in combat, work in the defense industry and other critical sectors, as well as emigration or evasion of mobilization.
This is reported by Finway
The Impact of Staff Shortages on Salaries
The significant reduction in the workforce has led to unprecedented salary growth in Ukraine. According to Shostak, the average salary in 2019 was $385, and by 2025 it had risen to $542. The businessman emphasizes that living in a country with a smaller population but higher incomes is more attractive. For example, he cites Luxembourg with a population of 660,000 and an average salary of €5,000-6,000, the UAE with 10 million residents and salaries of €6,000-7,000, and Singapore: 5.6 million inhabitants and an average salary of €4,000-5,000.
“Currently, staff shortages have become one of the main driving forces behind economic changes in the country. In particular, the unprecedented growth of salaries,” the expert noted.
The Future of Ukraine: Quality of Life Instead of Population Size
Ruslan Shostak believes that Ukraine’s future depends on the development of a high-tech and export-oriented industrial sector. According to his forecasts, if the country moves in this direction, the main goal will not be the population size, but the quality of life for its citizens. Shostak is convinced that Ukraine has every chance to significantly improve the living standards of its residents by 2030.