Labor shortage in Ukraine 2025: causes, trends and solutions

In 2025, the Ukrainian labor market is facing an unprecedented workforce shortage.The consequences of war, large-scale migration, demographic decline, and economic transformation have created a situation where the demand for workers in many industries far exceeds the available supply.According to expert estimates, Ukraine already lacks over 1 million employees across key sectors — from construction and logistics to manufacturing and agriculture.In this article Rhombus Recruiting analyzes the key causes of the labor deficit, current trends for 2025, and possible solutions for Ukrainian businesses.

Ukraine is facing one of the most profound labor shortages in its modern history — a structural crisis reshaping the country’s economy and accelerating the demand for foreign workers. This shortage is no longer a temporary effect of war or migration but a long-term challenge that calls for new, systematic recruitment strategies.
The first and most significant factor behind the labor deficit is the mass migration caused by the war. According to the Ministry of Economy, over six million Ukrainians remain abroad, and most of them are of working age. Even as the situation stabilizes, many are expected to continue working overseas. The result is a severe lack of personnel, particularly in industrial hubs and the construction sector, where the demand for manual and technical labor remains constant.
Another critical factor is demographic decline. Ukraine’s population is aging rapidly, and the proportion of citizens over 50 is steadily growing. At the same time, the younger workforce is shrinking. In many production facilities and factories, the average age of workers now exceeds 45, and companies struggle to replace retirees with younger employees. This imbalance is deepening the gap between labor demand and available human resources.
The country’s economy is also undergoing structural transformation. Since 2022, a significant number of businesses have relocated to western Ukraine, creating regional imbalances. New industries — such as logistics, infrastructure reconstruction, and agritech — are expanding at record speed, forming local “hot spots” of labor demand. These fast-growing sectors have become key drivers of Ukraine’s recovery, but they also face acute workforce shortages.
Compounding the issue is the outflow of skilled Ukrainian workers to neighboring countries. Nations like Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Romania are actively attracting Ukrainian specialists with competitive salaries and simplified work visa procedures. This migration intensifies the deficit of both low- and mid-skilled labor at home, leaving Ukrainian employers searching for reliable alternatives.
The impact of these factors is most visible in core industries that rely heavily on manual and technical labor. Construction, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and the service sector are struggling to fill essential roles — from bricklayers, plasterers, and welders to machine operators, warehouse personnel, and hospitality staff.
As Ukraine’s internal labor resources continue to shrink, foreign recruitment has become a structural necessity rather than a temporary solution. Professional recruitment agencies now play a critical role in bridging this gap by offering legal, transparent, and efficient hiring channels. The government’s growing focus on compliance and the legalization of foreign labor is further encouraging businesses to cooperate with licensed international partners instead of resorting to informal or risky practices.
Rhombus Recruiting stands at the forefront of this transformation. As an international recruitment company specializing in sourcing, legalizing, and supporting foreign workers from Asia — including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — the company provides a comprehensive, turnkey solution for Ukrainian employers. Its services cover every stage of the employment process: candidate search and verification, work permit processing, visa support, insurance, logistics, housing, and adaptation programs.
Through this system, employers gain motivated, trained, and fully legalized staff ready to contribute from day one, while Ukraine benefits from higher productivity, stability, and tax revenue.
The labor shortage, though challenging, also represents an opportunity — a chance to modernize the workforce and integrate new international practices into Ukraine’s recovery model. When managed legally and transparently, the employment of foreign workers strengthens not only individual businesses but also the national economy.

How Rhombus Recruiting helps to solve the labor crisis

Rhombus Recruiting is helping build this bridge between Ukraine and Asia — creating a fair, sustainable, and mutually beneficial framework for international employment that supports both economic resilience and human potential.
We provide a full-cycle recruting “turnkey” service, including:● professional search and candidate verification;● work permit processing and visa support;● insurance and logistics;● accommodation and adaptation programs.Employers receive legal, motivated, and prepared workers — while Ukraine gains stability, productivity, and tax revenue.