Former Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov said that after the war, Ukraine could face an acute labor shortage. According to him, the country will have to attract about 10 million labor migrants to stabilize and develop the economy.
When asked by a journalist how many workers would need to be imported to achieve economic growth, Mylovanov answered unequivocally: "Ten million. Get ready for a new Ukraine."
The reason is the rapid aging of the population and a significant reduction in the economically active population. Ukraine already has a critical ratio between those who work and those who are retired. The war has only exacerbated this problem - a significant part of the people have left abroad, others have died or lost their ability to work.
Mylovanov emphasizes that if Ukrainians do not change their approaches to work, productivity, and education, the country will be forced to massively import workers — not tens of thousands, but millions. This will primarily concern labor-intensive professions — construction workers, mechanics, and production workers.
This forecast raises debate: is the Ukrainian state ready to integrate a large number of foreign workers? Is there a migration policy strategy? What will be the social consequences?
However, one thing is clear: the demographic crisis is becoming one of the key threats to post-war recovery. And now Ukraine must choose between the mass return of its citizens and the involvement of foreigners.
