Ukraine is experiencing a severe shortage of skilled workers, particularly electricians, welders, machinists, and locksmiths. This situation poses risks to the stable functioning of production and critical infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for the development of vocational education and retraining programs.
This is reported by Finway
Lack of technical specialists in the labor market
According to Serhiy Savytskyi, head of the KSE ProfTech project, the demand for qualified technical specialties significantly exceeds supply.
“For 1544 open vacancies for electricians, there are only 479 candidates, and for 1257 positions for gas welders, there are just 539 job seekers,” the expert notes.
A similar situation is observed among machinists, toolmakers, and locksmiths, where the number of vacancies far exceeds the number of candidates. On average, there are more than three job offers for each qualified worker. As a result, production and infrastructure facilities risk halting due to a lack of specialists, which poses a serious threat to logistics, construction, equipment repair, energy, and other critically important sectors of the economy.
Imbalance in the labor market and solutions
At the same time, there is an oversaturation of candidates in several other professions, such as cleaners and salespeople. For one cleaner vacancy, there are more than three applicants (6550 job seekers for 2455 vacancies), and a similar situation exists among salespeople. This indicates a significant imbalance in the labor market: despite the high demand for skilled trades, many people choose specialties where competition for positions is much higher.
According to a job portal, the average salary for a cleaner is about 16,500 UAH, while for a salesperson, it is approximately 25,000 UAH. At the same time, representatives of in-demand technical professions, such as CNC machine operators and welders, earn an average of about 37,500 UAH, while electronics assemblers can earn up to 45,000 UAH. Despite this, due to low awareness, stereotypes, and insufficient development of the vocational retraining system, many Ukrainians do not consider these professions as promising.
To overcome the staffing crisis, experts recommend a comprehensive approach that includes:
- informing the public about retraining opportunities and the advantages of skilled trades;
- launching short-term practical training programs focused on real market needs;
- changing societal attitudes towards skilled trades, demonstrating their prestige and high salaries;
- involving businesses in investing in staff training, organizing internships, and guaranteeing employment;
- government support and policies that will stimulate the development of vocational education.
Addressing the issue of the shortage of qualified personnel is crucial for ensuring the resilience of Ukraine’s economy and its security in the future.