Ukraine drafts foreign worker recruitment plan to address staffing gaps
The proposal would introduce an annual occupations list and uniform qualification checks, but an expert says barriers to recruitment remain.
A proposal published by Ukraine’s Economy Ministry would give employers a new route to recruit skilled workers and professionals from overseas as labor shortages persist during Russia’s invasion. The draft resolution has yet to take effect, and its terms remain open to revision.
Responsibility for identifying occupations with staffing needs would rest with the State Employment Service. It would gather information from employers, regional employment centers and government agencies to produce a yearly list. Businesses could report their needs by Oct. 1, ahead of publication of the proposed list by Dec. 31.
The ministry also proposes uniform procedures for evaluating overseas applicants’ qualifications. Candidates would need evidence of education and work experience, plus documentation showing an employment arrangement in Ukraine, such as a contract or job offer.
Volodymyr Landa, head of investment screening at the Economic Security Council of Ukraine since September 2025, supported the acknowledgment that foreign hiring may be necessary. But he described the proposed paperwork as excessive, citing document translations and the possible requirement to use Diia, the government’s online platform. He said the draft concentrated on document submission without resolving how candidates would discover vacancies or move through recruitment.
The proposed pilot would operate under martial law and continue for three months after martial law ends or is lifted. Its duration would be capped at two years from the resolution taking effect.
