Women and youth are being employed more in Ukraine: War is depleting the workforce

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

As the war with Russia depletes Ukraine's workforce, companies in the country are employing more women and young people in positions traditionally dominated by men. Ukrainian companies are also turning to students and older workers to close the labor gap, which has reached critical levels.

Analysts say the employment crisis, caused by millions of people—mostly women and children—fleeing the war abroad and tens of thousands of men joining the army, could jeopardize economic growth and post-war recovery.

According to central bank data, Ukraine has lost more than a quarter of its workforce since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

According to a Ministry of Economy survey covering more than 3,000 companies, approximately 60 percent of businesses said their biggest challenge was finding qualified personnel.

Tetiana Petruk, chief sustainability officer at Metinvest, a steel company that is one of Ukraine's largest employers with a workforce of approximately 45,000, stated that 'the situation is truly critical,' noting that there are about 4,000 vacant positions at the company.

In an interview with Reuters, Petruk said, 'The staff shortage is affecting our production. We are not the only ones feeling the staff shortage; all companies in the regions, including construction firms, are feeling it.'

In its report, Reuters stated that it spoke with representatives from nine Ukrainian companies, ranging from large industrial firms to retail groups and small private entrepreneurs, and that all of them said they were facing problems with staff shortages and an increasing lack of qualified personnel.

News Source: 12punto