Ukraine’s labor market: which professions have lost the most job vacancies since 2022

Over four years — from April 2022 to April 2026 — employer demand for a number of professions in Ukraine has declined significantly. The greatest losses have been recorded in the services sector, domestic staffing, and certain blue-collar occupations.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a study by OLX Robota.

Demand for housekeepers fell the most sharply: the number of vacancies dropped by 68% — from 287 to 93 listings. This is the largest decline among all professions studied.

Demand for a number of other occupations also fell by more than half. A specific list of those professions is not provided in full in the source data of the study — the original text contains a reference to a list that was not reproduced in the publication.

Among professions where demand fell by 20–50%, both blue-collar workers and office employees were represented. The steepest drop within this group was recorded for welders — down 46%, with vacancies falling from 175 to 94. The number of job openings also declined for a number of other specialists, a list of whom is mentioned in the source text but not fully disclosed in the publication.

A separate group consists of professions where vacancies fell by less than 20%. These include several occupations mentioned in the study without further detail in the publication.

According to analysts, the war has significantly affected the structure of employment in Ukraine: some employers cut costs, certain businesses changed their operating model or ceased operations entirely. At the same time, demand grew for professions related to manufacturing, logistics, the defense sector, and technical specializations. The most pronounced reduction in vacancies, the study concludes, occurred in sectors dependent on household income levels and consumer activity.

RBC-Ukraine previously reported that in the first quarter of 2026, women in Ukraine earned on average 27% less than men. The largest gap was recorded in the arts, finance, and IT sectors. The average national salary has risen to 28,900 hryvnias since the start of the year.