A third of graduates found jobs, while some had to retrain: The Employment Service spoke about the situation on the labor market

In the first half of 2025, 1.7 thousand graduates of Ukrainian universities applied to the State Employment Service. Only a third of them managed to find a job, while 20% of young specialists were forced to undergo vocational training. This was told to the UNN journalist by Yulia Zhovtiak, director of the State Employment Service.

What percentage of Ukrainian graduates are employed in their specialty?

During the first half of 2025, 1.7 thousand unemployed people who registered with the service after graduating from higher education institutions used the services of the State Employment Service.

The director added that graduates who obtained such specialties as management and administration, education, law, social sciences, business and law most often looked for work.

At the same time, almost 1,000 of them received a bachelor’s and junior bachelor’s degree, more than 500 graduates – a master’s degree, more than 200 – specialists and junior specialists.

Of those who applied, more than 570 graduates got jobs, and more than 300 underwent vocational training.

What skills will be needed in the next 5 years?

It is obvious that after the end of the war, an increase in employer demand in all sectors of the economy can be expected. First of all, in the construction, energy, and industrial sectors. At the same time, we predict that due to demobilization, as well as the return of some citizens from abroad, the supply of labor will also increase.

Many of those who will be looking for work in the coming years, Zhovtiak notes, will have a significant break in their work experience. This means that they will have to update or completely restore their professional skills.

According to the forecasts of the World Economic Forum, outlined in the Future of Jobs Report 2025, the global labor market will undergo a profound transformation over the next five years, the director emphasizes.

According to her, the changes will affect many areas and cause serious structural shifts in the economy. Among the main factors that will influence these processes are digitalization, rising cost of living, the need to adapt to climate challenges, and geopolitical instability.

The most in-demand will be technological professions, such as fintech engineers, AI specialists, machine learning experts, cybersecurity analysts, artificial intelligence engineers, DataOps developers, cloud system architects, data management specialists, DevOps engineers, and virtual reality analysts.

But she added that professions in the social sphere will remain relevant: teachers of higher and secondary educational institutions, rehabilitation specialists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, especially those with experience working with combat trauma, professional development trainers, coaches.

“The demand for agricultural workers, drivers, builders, sellers, food industry workers, caregivers, logistics managers, agronomists, veterinarians and eco-consultants, machine operators with program control, electric and gas welders, turners will remain consistently high,” the director also emphasized.

AdditionThe State Employment Center also identified 10 rare professions in Ukraine, including actuary – a specialist who deals with risk assessment and management, especially in the insurance and financial sectors. Also, choirmaster, who leads a choir, is responsible for selecting the repertoire, training choristers, and preparing the choir for performances and concerts, and church minister – sacristan, deacon, chaplain’s assistant.

Also, earlier UNN wrote that the State Employment Center reported a lack of demand for foresters, captains, and philologists. Most employers, however, are looking for drivers, locksmiths, seamstresses, loaders, and doctors. However, significant demand for certain professions is due to high staff turnover. For example, sellers, waiters, baristas, auxiliary workers, and loaders often quit.

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