Ukraine Businesses Increasing Hiring of Women and Teenagers due to Labor Shortage
Liliia Shulha, a 40-year-old woman from Ukraine, recently landed her dream job as a truck driver with Fozzy Group, the country’s top retailer. Growing up, Shulha always had a passion for driving big vehicles, and now she’s finally living out her childhood dream.
Due to the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of workers as millions of people have fled the country and many men have been mobilized into the army. This labor crisis could pose a threat to economic growth and post-war recovery, according to analysts.
Businesses across various industries are struggling to find skilled workers, with nearly 60% of companies citing this as their main challenge. As a result, companies are changing their recruitment strategies, offering more benefits, increasing wages, and hiring individuals without prior experience to fill vacant positions.
In response to the shortage of male workers due to military mobilization, industries traditionally dominated by men are now welcoming more women into roles such as truck driving, mining, security, and warehouse work. Companies like Silpo, a part of Fozzy Group, are actively recruiting women for positions that were previously male-dominated.
In addition to hiring more women, businesses are also focusing on young people by offering training programs, internships, and job opportunities to students and teenagers. This shift towards recruiting younger workers aims to address the long-term labor market challenges that Ukraine is facing.
Overall, the government and foreign partners have launched programs to help Ukrainians acquire new skills and qualifications to meet the demands of the changing labor market. This focus on reskilling and workforce development is seen as essential for sustaining economic growth and recovery in the post-war period.
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Sofia Martins graduated from the Technical University of Madrid with a degree in Agronomy, focusing on plant nutrition and soil science. She has a deep interest in sustainable fertilizer management and works to develop eco-friendly solutions that optimize plant growth while minimizing nutrient runoff. Sofia is a dedicated researcher and has published several articles on sustainable plant nutrition practices.