2024 in Ukraine became significant for the growth of real salaries - an indicator adjusted to inflation, increased by an average of 14.4%. The largest “additions” were observed in industries such as IT, trade and real estate operations, while other sectors, such as education and art, felt a decline. This is evidenced by the data of the inflation report of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) .
The increase in real income in 2024 was made possible by a shortage of personnel , which was formed as a result of war and migration of the population. This stimulated employers to raise salaries to keep qualified professionals.
According to Danylo Hetmantsev , the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, in the third quarter of 2024, the average real salary in the economy has already exceeded the pre -war level (similar period of 2021) by 7.2% .
"The labor deficit remains much higher than until a full -scale invasion, but it gradually decreases, which affects the growth rate," the NBU emphasized.
The most significant increase in wages is recorded in the following industries:
- IT sector: +45,5%
- Trade: +32,3%
- Real estate operations: +23,8%
- Finances: +22,6%
- Hotel and restaurant business: +21,4%
The growth in IT is explained not only by a shortage of personnel, but also by high demand for Ukrainian specialists on a global scale. In trade and real estate, salaries have been a consequence of economic activity in these areas that show recovery from the crisis.
However, not all industries have experienced an increase in income. In the field of construction, they have hardly changed (+0.9%), and in some sectors real income has even decreased:
- Education: -14,8%
- Art: -10,1%
Reduction of salaries in these areas is associated with low funding and falling demand for the services they provide.
According to the NBU, in 2025, the increase in real wages will slow down to 3.8% , given the higher inflation (12.4% against 6.5% in 2024) and further stabilization of the labor market.
Nevertheless, personnel shortages in some industries will remain at a high level, which causes uneven salaries between different sectors of the economy.
In general, the economy demonstrates a gradual recovery, but individual sectors need more attention to overcome the crisis.
