The full-scale war in Ukraine made significant changes not only in the socio-economic, but also in the labor sphere of the country, in particular in matters of wages. But despite the difficult conditions, the labor market is experiencing positive wage dynamics in many areas of activity.
How the salaries of Ukrainians changed during 2 years of full-scale war
Over the past 2 years, which have become a test for the entire country, the Ukrainian labor market has demonstrated not only the ability to survive, but also gradual recovery and growth. According to research by the leading recruiting platform Work.ua, the average salary in Ukraine from 2022 to 2024 increased by 30% or 4.5 thousand hryvnia and at the beginning of 2024 amounted to 19.5 thousand hryvnia.
Despite inflationary processes, which reached 26.6% in 2022 and 5.1% in 2023, wage growth has become one of the key factors supporting domestic consumer demand and contributing to an increase in the living standards of citizens. This growth was made possible by a rebound in vacancy rates, which in the first quarter of 2024 reached 93% of pre-invasion levels.
Among the regions that demonstrated the greatest increase in the number of vacancies, the leaders are Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnitsky, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Rivne and Chernivtsi. Interestingly, these regions became home to significant numbers of internally displaced persons, which in turn stimulated demand for labor and contributed to economic activity.
An important trend has also been the increase in the share of women and young people under 25 years of age in the labor market, which indicates a change in the demographic structure of the working population and, possibly, reflects the impact of mobilization on the male part of the population. This may also indicate the increased mobility and flexibility of the younger generation in finding work.
In terms of the absolute number of proposals, the leaders are such regions as Kiev, Lviv, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Kharkov regions.
Dynamics of changes in the labor market in 2024
The labor market in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2024 showed a positive trend in average wage growth, which became a clear indicator of the economy’s adaptation to the challenges of a full-scale war. According to the State Statistics Service, the average salary in Ukraine increased by 22.5% and amounted to UAH 18,903, indicating the strengthening of the financial situation of Ukrainians.
A significant increase in income is observed in the information and telecommunications sector with an average salary of UAH 49,473, which is 35.6% more than last year. Workers in the finance and insurance sectors do not lag behind IT in terms of income, with an average salary of 39,116 UAH. Such indicators indicate the high value of specialists in these industries, as well as the trend towards digitalization and automation of processes in the modern economy.
At the same time, the growth of wages in the water transport sector is of great interest, where the average salary increased by 42% and amounted to UAH 26,085. This may indicate the restoration and development of supply chains, which is key to maintaining the country's economic activity.
Despite the overall positive trend, there are sectors with relatively low average salaries, particularly in the cultural and educational sectors. This requires additional measures to increase the attractiveness of these professions and ensure a decent standard of living for workers.
The increase in the number of vacancies that employers posted, despite the shortage of personnel, indicates the resumption of the labor market and the business need for qualified workers for further development. However, the stabilization of the average salary at the level of 20 thousand hryvnia indicates the need for further reforms to maintain income growth and increase the competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy.
In this context, the key task of government and business remains the creation of favorable conditions for attracting and retaining personnel, ensuring decent working conditions and developing the professional potential of citizens.
Average salary in June 2024 by economic sector
According to the work.ua platform, as of June 2024, the situation with average salaries for vacancies and resumes in different industries is as follows.
In the field of IT, computers and the Internet, the average salary for vacancies is 20,439 UAH, which demonstrates the high appreciation of specialists in this area, despite the small difference with the average salary for a resume, which is 20,381 UAH.
Administration and middle management have higher than the market average salary per resume - UAH 23,072, compared to UAH 21,215 for vacancies, which indicates an increased demand for qualified managers.
In the field of construction and architecture, the average salary for vacancies is UAH 21,682, which also reflects the stable demand for specialists compared to the average salary for a resume – UAH 23,652.
The accounting and audit sector has an average salary for vacancies of UAH 17,354, which is one of the lower indicators, however, the average salary for a resume has increased to UAH 19,250, demonstrating a higher level of expectations of specialists.
Education and science in Ukraine also felt the impact of a full-scale war, but despite this, the sector demonstrated resilience. The average salary for vacancies in this area is UAH 17,080, which is one of the lower indicators compared to other industries. However, the average salary per resume increased to UAH 18,408, indicating the high value of specialists in this field.
The average salary for vacancies in medicine and pharmaceuticals is 19,511 UAH, and for a resume has increased to 20,075 UAH, which highlights the growing demand for qualified medical specialists in the context of war.
The average salary for vacancies in the field of construction is UAH 21,682, which is one of the highest indicators among economic sectors. At the same time, the salary per resume increased to UAH 23,652, indicating a high need for qualified specialists to restore and develop the country’s infrastructure.
The highest average salary for vacancies is observed in the field of top management and senior management - UAH 27,810, which emphasizes the key role of such specialists in managing ramified structures during a crisis.
In general, the average salary in the Ukrainian labor market is UAH 19,417 for vacancies and UAH 19,888 for a resume, which indicates a certain increase in wages in many areas of activity. This increase in wages is a testament to the efforts of Ukrainian business and government to adapt the economy to new conditions, while providing support for the workforce during the period of martial law.
Now the situation on the labor market in Ukraine shows that, despite the challenges associated with mobilization and migration, there is a positive dynamics of wage growth in many areas. This demonstrates the economy’s adaptation to new realities and emphasizes the importance of investment in the development of key industries for further stabilization and growth of wages.
