In Kyiv, hundreds of restaurants may close due to the mass departure abroad of young employees

Hundreds of restaurants in Kyiv may close due to the mass departure of young employees following the government’s decision to allow men aged 18–22 to travel abroad.

This was reported by industry representatives interviewed by Ekonomichna Pravda.

Restaurateurs predict a 20–30% loss of staff in this age group, which will create serious problems for businesses.

“Hundreds of establishments will close — and that’s just in Kyiv,” restaurateur Alex Cooper forecast.

He noted that declining attendance and rising costs are creating a “vicious circle” for the industry.

According to market participants, November — traditionally one of the weakest months for the restaurant sector — will be critical. Against this backdrop, the industry is preparing for closures and strict austerity measures.

It should be recalled that employers in Ukraine have already complained about resignations of young workers after the border opening.

The problem has been felt most acutely by large businesses with more than 1,000 employees. The hardest-hit sectors have been hospitality and restaurants (65%), retail (59%), and the food industry (52%).

Earlier, media reported that after men aged 18–22 were allowed to leave the country, companies began to see a mass outflow of young staff.