USAID mission: Ukraine will lack 5 to 10 million workers

IX Forum "Conductors of Change". Photo: conductorsofchanges.com

Last month, the forum "Conductors of Change" took place in Kyiv. The event featured Theodora Dell, Deputy Head of the USAID Mission in Ukraine, who stated that by 2030, Ukraine will face a shortfall of 5 to 10 million workers, according to NV.

The organizers of "Conductors of Change" describe the platform as a space uniting influential public and government figures, opinion leaders, for the common goal of transforming business, individuals, and the state.

In addition to Theodora Dell, participants included Serhiy Kvit, President of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Serhiy Sukhomlyn, former Mayor of Zhytomyr, Artem Borodatyuk, founder of IT companies Netpeak Group, and Olena Boychenko, a partner at Deloitte Ukraine.

Ms. Dell expressed concern about the upcoming workforce crisis in Ukraine, which could lead to an economic crisis.

Theodora Dell said: "By 2030, Ukraine will lack 5 to 10 million new workers. However, this gap can be bridged by utilizing the country's own potential. Our office in Washington conducted research and calculated that the current employment rate in Ukraine is 52%, while in Europe, this figure is 76%. If these numbers are equalized, the market would gain an additional 4.8 million workers."

The Deputy Head of the USAID Mission suggested that one way out of this crisis could be for women to enter traditionally male-dominated professions. Ms. Dell noted that the Ukrainian people are adaptable, but proper training and awareness in the information sphere are crucial for this shift.

"Recently, we opened a training center for women drivers of heavy machinery in the Kyiv region. For 20 available spots, there were only 15 participants. But after we used social media to promote the center, the second enrollment received 250 applications," Dell remarked.

Serhiy Kvit agreed with Dell, stating that improving the quality of specialist training and increasing human capital require systematic reforms in the education sector.

The founder of IT companies Netpeak Group, Olena Boychenko, stated: "Ukraine has significant potential to attract new workers from groups that are currently less active in the labor market: women, older people, youth, and others. Many are open to new opportunities, willing to learn, and ready to change careers, as evidenced by the results of our joint express survey with Gradus Research."

According to the forum participants, the full-scale war will only exacerbate migration and workforce shortages. Researchers from Deloitte Ukraine and Gradus Research see a solution in encouraging women to take on traditionally male-dominated professions. According to their studies, young people and women from the western and northern regions of Ukraine, as well as Kyiv, show the most interest in this shift.

New Voice reminds that, according to bill 11416-d, the military tax on salaries of 30,000 UAH will increase from 450 UAH to 1,500 UAH.

The UOJ previously reported that the UN discussed how many Ukrainians would remain in the country by 2100.

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