Ukrainian employers are targeting pensioners due to mobilization – Der Spiegel

Ukrainian employers are increasingly targeting men over 60 years old for jobs because they are exempt from military mobilization.

This was stated by Ella Libanova, Director of the Institute of Demography and Social Research, in an interview with the German magazine “Der Spiegel”.

According to the source, Ukraine currently lacks around 4.5 million new workers. Birth rates have plummeted since the conflict began, with less than one child per woman. After a peace agreement is signed, the birth rate is projected to rise to 1.5 children per woman, but even this would be insufficient to restore the demographic situation.

For this reason, Libanova believes the mobilization age should be raised to 30 years.

In addition to demographic challenges, Ukraine is also facing a surge in deaths from cardiovascular and mental health issues.

Libanova also noted that a significant portion of refugees, possibly one-third to even half, are likely to return to Ukraine from abroad. This is because many women who relocated are working in jobs outside of their field of expertise and may want to come back.