“The labor market during the war. Employers have changed rates — where and to whom they are now offering the highest salaries January 15, 4:30 p.m. Share: What was 2024 like in the labor market. Digest from OLX Robot (Photo: pexels / Creative Vix) OLX Robot specialists analyzed what 2024 was like in the labor market — in which areas and industries the salary increased the most, how much different categories of the population will receive and key”, — write on: ua.news
What was the year 2024 like on the labor market. Digest from OLX Robot (Photo: pexels / Creative Vix)
OLX Robot specialists analyzed what 2024 was like on the labor market — in which areas and industries the salary increased the most, how much different categories of the population will receive and key insights from the recruitment process for the Armed Forces.
The labor market in Ukraine in 2024 continues to adapt to the challenges caused by the war and its consequences. According to OLX Robot analytics, despite the crisis trends, the activity of employers and job seekers shows moderate growth. The positive dynamics of salaries and the increase in the number of vacancies indicate that the market is searching for new equilibrium points.
The year 2024 was marked by an increase in the demand for qualified specialists and, at the same time, a deepening of the shortage of personnel. High salaries are not always the predominant criterion when choosing a place of work. Among others, no less important are a safe place of work, a social package and the possibility of booking.
According to OLX Robot, the median salary in Ukraine as of the end of 2024 is UAH 20,000 (480 dollars USA). Over the year, the salary increased by 12.5%. According to the State Statistics Service, annual inflation in Ukraine as of the beginning of December was 11.2%.
In 2021, the average salary in Ukraine as of December was UAH 17,453. According to the exchange rate at that time, it was equal to 641 dollars. USA. Thus, from 2021, the salary in hryvnias increased by 13%, and in dollars it decreased by 25%.
The situation varies by region. For example, in the Kherson region, the salary has increased by 45% in a year and amounts to UAH 22,000. In Chernivtsi region, it increased by 34% – UAH 21,500. An increase in the median salary by a third was also recorded in Khmelnytskyi (UAH 20,000), Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk (UAH 22,500). In addition, the last two regions have the highest median salary in the country.
The situation is similar in the largest cities. The highest median salary in Ukraine can be offered in Lviv and Kyiv – UAH 22,500 (+22% and +13% for the year, respectively). In Dnipro, the salary for the year increased by 17%, but it is 20,500 hryvnias.
During the year, the median salary of designers increased the most (+64%), SMM managers (+62%), computer repair masters (+56%), electricians (+50%) and installers (+48%).
Given that overall salaries have increased, only a few occupations have recorded a drop in the offered salary, and even then it is not significant. Most (-10%) lost facades. The salary of watchmen also decreased (-8%), tutors (-5%), furniture assemblers (-4%) and sorters (-4%).
In 2024, the number of job offers on the OLX Job portal increased by 6% compared to 2023, while the number of searcher reviews increased by 4%. Among the largest cities, the situation is radically different. In Lviv, compared to 2023, the number of vacancies decreased by 10%, and the number of reviews increased by 11%.
At the same time, in Kyiv, job advertisements increased by 19%, but reviews decreased by 6%. The number of vacancies has increased in Dnipro (6%), as well as feedback from searchers (8%).
The offer of remote work has increased significantly. The number of ads compared to 2023 increased by 31%. The median salary has also changed and is UAH 19,100 (+16% per year). At the same time, demand decreased somewhat — -3% compared to 2023.
The most popular professions among searchers were:
- online store manager;
- packer in production;
- copywriter;
- assembler;
- watcher.
The most difficult vacancies to close:
- auditor;
- pharmacist;
- automotive electronics;
- designer;
- dentist
In the category of work for pensioners, the median salary in Ukraine is UAH 17,000, which is a difference of -15% from the median salary in Ukraine. Among the regions, the highest salary for people of retirement age is offered in the west (over UAH 20,000), and the least in the center and frontline regions.
The median salary among vacancies proactively marked by employers as suitable for people with disabilities is UAH 18,200, which is 9% less than the median salary in Ukraine. By region, the situation is similar to vacancies for pensioners.
In the category in the decree, the median salary is UAH 16,400, which is 18% less. Above average offer in Zaporizhzhia region (UAH 20,750), in Kyiv region and Odesa region (UAH 19,500), in the Lviv region (UAH 19,000).
Among the vacancies suitable for people with UBD status, the median salary is UAH 19,800, which actually corresponds to the average level of pay in Ukraine. Traditionally, a higher salary is offered in the west (UAH 22,000). Less than the average in Ukraine is offered in the center (Cherkasy and Kirovohrad) and in Sumy Oblast – UAH 17,500.
In the category of work for students, the median salary in Ukraine is UAH 17,400. This is 13% less than the national average salary. Most are offered to students in the Kyiv and Lviv regions (UAH 20,000). Below average prices are offered in Sumy Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast and Chernihiv Oblast.
A year after the signing of the memorandum with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, OLX Robota received several tens of thousands of feedback on vacancies in the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The most military vacancies were published in the most populated regions regions of the country — Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Kharkiv and Lviv regions.
As for military professions, the jobs of drivers, gunners, UAV operators, commanders and medics are most often offered.
The best respond to vacancies:
- service in air defense units;
- service as a cook;
- FPV and UAV operator.
On average, recruits are offered a salary of UAH 70,000. A little less — 60,000 UAH, offered at the PPO. Instructors and accountants are paid UAH 35-36,000 each.
The Part-time job category is popular among searchers. In 2024, one job ad in this category received 75 reviews. Leaders among job seekers are construction, logistics/delivery and advertising/design/PR.
The highest payment is offered for construction – UAH 22,000. Next comes work at service stations/car washes and call centers — UAH 17,500. The lowest paid part-time job is found among the announcements in the field of protection and security — UAH 4,950, cleaning — UAH 4,100, agriculture — UAH 4,000.
Conclusions and forecasts for 2025
The situation on the labor market in 2024 remains difficult. According to the OLX Job survey, 65% of employers reported that the crisis will only get worse.
On the one hand, we see that salary growth exceeds the annual inflation rate. At the same time, the average salary in Ukraine is significantly lower than among our closest neighbors from the EU. For example, according to the results of the third quarter of 2024, the average salary in Poland is 8,161 zlotys, or 83,900 hryvnias. According to the NBU exchange rate, this is a little more than 2,000 dollars. USA and it is four times higher than in Ukraine.
The number of vacancies has increased more than the number of searcher reviews. This is one of the direct indicators of the crisis in the labor market — the general shortage of personnel and regional disparity. People continue to migrate to safer regions, thus saturating the local labor market. At the same time, there is a shortage of workers in other regions.
According to the EBA, 71% of employers noted that they felt a significant shortage of qualified personnel. In order to attract new employees, employers are more willing to increase salaries — 43% of respondents raised them by 10-15%. Also, almost half of employers provided psychological support to employees and their families, and 21% helped with housing rent.
Remote work is becoming more popular. Although this format is not possible for construction, logistics or manufacturing fields, it helps in finding workers in the fields of service provision, online trade, etc.
Among the goals for 2025, both the state and employers should work harder to integrate veterans and people with disabilities into the labor market. According to OLX Robot, 12% of veterans had difficulty finding employment this year. At the same time, 17% of employers had employees with UBD status. It is obvious that their number will grow.
In the conditions of war and global changes, the economy of Ukraine needs flexibility and readiness to change the workforce. In 2025, two main trends will be Diversity and Inclusion (Diversity and Inclusion) and Reskilling (retraining) and Upskilling (professional development).
- “Let’s be straight.” Chernyshov told what might happen to the labor market after the end of the war
- A high salary is not an advantage. What vacancies are in the lowest demand in Ukraine – research
- The labor market dictates the conditions. Ukrainians almost unanimously answered the question whether they would work for less money
It was previously reported that in 9 months of 2024, the average salary in Ukraine increased by 22.2%.
In 2025, the average salary of an employee in the agricultural sector will decrease by almost UAH 7,300 in 12 months.