In Ukraine, more and more companies are employing people of retirement age. The main areas of employment for pensioners remain security services, administrative roles, concierge work, light warehouse labor, public transport services, and retail.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for the Growing Demand for Older Workers
According to Oleksandr Chumak, president of the Association of Private Employers, the reason for this trend is the acute labor shortage that has intensified since the onset of the full-scale war. The significant emigration of the working-age population abroad and mobilization have led to a decrease in the number of specialists in the market. The shortage of labor is particularly pronounced in the social and service sectors due to the departure of women from the country.
“Salaries for older workers are generally 10–20% lower than the industry average, which creates additional incentives for businesses. At the same time, the emigration of women abroad exacerbates the labor shortage in the social and service sectors,” Chumak said.
What Advantages Does Hiring Pensioners Offer Businesses
Companies in large and medium-sized cities are increasingly considering candidates of retirement age as a reserve group of workers. They actively seek specialists among those who have previously worked in the company and are well acquainted with the specifics of the job. This allows for minimizing training and adaptation costs, as the qualification level of such workers remains high.
Among the main advantages for employers is the opportunity to optimize the payroll fund. The average salary of a pensioner in a similar position is 10–20% lower than that of younger specialists, allowing businesses to reduce costs without significantly decreasing productivity. Chumak emphasizes that the labor shortage and cost savings are the main motivations for hiring pensioners.