In the summer of 2025, traditionally characterized by a decline in business activity in the labor market, Ukraine recorded a record number of both job vacancies and candidates over the past year. Significant attention is focused on the increase in the number of underage job seekers: their share has risen from 3% to 6%. Well-known companies such as McDonald’s, “Epicenter,” and “Silpo” have officially announced job openings for individuals under 18 years old.
This is reported by Finway
Advantages for Inexperienced Candidates and Salary Dynamics
The number of job offers for those without work experience has noticeably increased: in June 2025, the share of such vacancies reached 55% of the total. This indicates a high demand for youth and newcomers in various sectors. The greatest shortage of personnel is observed in the field of skilled trades and manufacturing — this category has remained a leader in the number of open positions for a long time, despite seasonal fluctuations.
In June, the number of people actively seeking work reached its highest level in over two years. Despite this, the average salary for this month did not change compared to previous months and remained at 25,000 hryvnias.
International Cooperation and Labor Market Reforms
Ukraine has signed new agreements to support and develop the labor market. During the URC2025 event, the Ministry of Economy, together with representatives of employer and employee organizations, signed a Tripartite Memorandum on Labor Market Reform. The document was supported by international organizations such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the International Labour Organization, the World Bank, and the European Trade Union Confederation. The memorandum outlines the shared responsibility of the parties for implementing balanced changes based on the principles of decent work, social dialogue, and respect for every individual.
“The memorandum is a joint commitment of the parties to a balanced labor market reform based on the values of decent work, social dialogue, and respect for dignity.”
Additionally, Ukraine has become an associated member of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which is an important step towards further integration into the social policy of the European Union. This membership opens access to funding for the modernization of labor legislation, the development of public employment services, and the strengthening of social policy institutions. Ukraine has also joined the EaSI (Employment and Social Innovations) program component, with a budget of 762 million euros for 2021–2027.
An important aspect of international cooperation has been the signing of agreements with Italy regarding the development of the employment sector, as well as the commencement of joint work with the Belgian agency Enabel to modernize and enhance the resilience of Ukraine’s labor market.