Ukraine is facing one of the most acute demographic crises in its history. The President of the All-Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies, Vasyl Voskoboynyk, emphasized during a telethon that the country is already suffering from a critical population decline. According to his data, only about seven children are born to ten Ukrainian women, while to maintain the population size this figure should be 22 children .
“Because of this situation, there can be no question of a return to 40 or 52 million population,” Voskoboynik stressed. The population is decreasing by 250-300 thousand people , which only deepens the crisis.
According to Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov , the country will lack 4.5 million workers by 2035 , which poses one of the most serious threats to economic development. According to Chernyshov, this is caused not only by low birth rates, but also by an aging population and mass migration.
A significant portion of Ukrainians who left abroad due to the war do not plan to return. Moreover, according to forecasts, another 2 million people will leave the labor market due to age changes.
Voskoboynyk believes that the only way out of the demographic crisis is to attract migrant workers . In his opinion, such workers will not only help the economy, but can also integrate into Ukrainian society, becoming a full-fledged part of it.
“We need to think about how to develop the economy and ensure its recovery after the war,” Voskoboynyk emphasizes.
Oleksiy Chernyshov outlined three key areas for reducing the labor shortage:
- Preservation and development of domestic human capital.
This includes improving working conditions, stimulating employment, and supporting youth. - Return of Ukrainians from abroad.
The government plans to create motivational programs for those who have left. - Attracting foreign labor.
To do this, it is necessary to adapt legislation and create favorable conditions for foreigners and their families.
Chernyshov also emphasized that solving the problem of labor shortage is impossible without increasing labor productivity . This requires investment, development of innovations and support for business.
For Ukraine to survive and rebuild quickly, the government has set an ambitious goal of doubling the country's GDP over the next decade . According to Chernyshov, to achieve this, the economy must grow by 7% annually , which is a big challenge, but possible if labor problems are effectively addressed.
Today, the shortage of human resources is becoming a major barrier to development. To overcome it, the country needs decisive steps in demographic, economic, and social policies.
