Labour shortages and new opportunities: business discusses employment support programmes and prospects for hiring foreign workers

30/ 06/ 2026

On 15 June, the European Business Association held the expert discussion Workforce Without Borders, focusing on the current dynamics of Ukraine’s labour market and the prospects for employing foreign workers. The event also explored employment support programmes for employers, international experience, legal aspects of hiring foreign nationals, and practical case studies from Ukrainian companies on integrating foreign specialists into their teams. Opening the event, Anna Derevyanko, Executive Director of the Association, noted that Ukraine’s labour market is currently under pressure from structural changes. Demographic challenges, migration trends, and labour shortages across a number of sectors are prompting both businesses and the government to seek new approaches to workforce development. One potential solution, she noted, is attracting foreign talent. During the event, the European Business Association presented the results of its survey on hiring foreign employees in Ukraine. The findings showed that the majority of surveyed companies do not plan to recruit foreign workers in the near future. Only 12% are actively considering this option, while just 2% already have practical experience employing foreign specialists. Businesses identified language barriers and employee adaptation as the main challenges. At the same time, 41% of respondents believe that stronger government support for the employment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could reduce the need to hire foreign workers, while a further 37% believe it could partially address the issue. Yuliia Zhovtiak, Director of the State Employment Service of Ukraine, presented the governments employment support instruments and labour market programmes. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 2.6 million people have used the Service’s support. Currently, 18 state employment programmes are being implemented. She also highlighted vocational training and reskilling initiatives, which have already benefited 184,000 people, including programmes aimed at retraining women for manufacturing professions where labour shortages are particularly acute. During the panel discussion, representatives of business, the public sector and the expert community exchanged views on the challenges and opportunities associated with employing foreign workers in Ukraine. Anastasiya Shevchenko, CEO of Global HR Solutions, emphasised that international experience in labour migration varies considerably. According to her, countries have demonstrated both successful and less successful approaches to attracting foreign workers, and Ukraine should draw on this experience when shaping its own migration policy. Serhiy Lenchuk, CEO of Galicia Greenery, shared his companys practical experience of employing foreign workers. He noted that the greatest demand is currently for blue-collar occupations. However, businesses continue to face procedural challenges: the employment process may take between two and five months, while work permits remain tied to a specific employee, limiting employers flexibility. In his view, permit procedures should be further simplified and accelerated. Dmytro Karpenko, General Manager of Fillin Ukraine, also highlighted the shortage of workers in the manufacturing sector, particularly at enterprises located outside major cities. He noted that obtaining work permits is generally manageable, but visa procedures remain a significant obstacle. At the same time, the company has already gained positive, albeit still limited, experience in employing foreign workers. Tetyana Petryk, Head of the Migration Law Practice at Prikhodko & Partners Law Firm, focused on the legalisation of foreign employees. According to her, many of the difficulties stem from visa procedures and migration authority checks, while the grounds for refusing legalisation can sometimes be quite broad. She also suggested that Ukraine could make greater efforts to attract specialists from neighbouring countries and across Europe. The European Business Association thanks all speakers and participants for the engaging discussion and their commitment to finding solutions to shared labour market challenges.

On 15 June, the European Business Association held the expert discussion Workforce Without Borders, focusing on the current dynamics of Ukraine’s labour market and the prospects for employing foreign workers.

The event also explored employment support programmes for employers, international experience, legal aspects of hiring foreign nationals, and practical case studies from Ukrainian companies on integrating foreign specialists into their teams.

Opening the event, Anna Derevyanko, Executive Director of the Association, noted that Ukraine’s labour market is currently under pressure from structural changes. Demographic challenges, migration trends, and labour shortages across a number of sectors are prompting both businesses and the government to seek new approaches to workforce development. One potential solution, she noted, is attracting foreign talent.

During the event, the European Business Association presented the results of its survey on hiring foreign employees in Ukraine. The findings showed that the majority of surveyed companies do not plan to recruit foreign workers in the near future. Only 12% are actively considering this option, while just 2% already have practical experience employing foreign specialists.

Businesses identified language barriers and employee adaptation as the main challenges. At the same time, 41% of respondents believe that stronger government support for the employment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could reduce the need to hire foreign workers, while a further 37% believe it could partially address the issue.

Yuliia Zhovtiak, Director of the State Employment Service of Ukraine, presented the government’s employment support instruments and labour market programmes. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, 2.6 million people have used the Service’s support. Currently, 18 state employment programmes are being implemented. She also highlighted vocational training and reskilling initiatives, which have already benefited 184,000 people, including programmes aimed at retraining women for manufacturing professions where labour shortages are particularly acute.

During the panel discussion, representatives of business, the public sector and the expert community exchanged views on the challenges and opportunities associated with employing foreign workers in Ukraine.

Anastasiya Shevchenko, CEO of Global HR Solutions, emphasised that international experience in labour migration varies considerably. According to her, countries have demonstrated both successful and less successful approaches to attracting foreign workers, and Ukraine should draw on this experience when shaping its own migration policy.

Serhiy Lenchuk, CEO of Galicia Greenery, shared his company’s practical experience of employing foreign workers. He noted that the greatest demand is currently for blue-collar occupations. However, businesses continue to face procedural challenges: the employment process may take between two and five months, while work permits remain tied to a specific employee, limiting employers’ flexibility. In his view, permit procedures should be further simplified and accelerated.

Dmytro Karpenko, General Manager of Fillin Ukraine, also highlighted the shortage of workers in the manufacturing sector, particularly at enterprises located outside major cities. He noted that obtaining work permits is generally manageable, but visa procedures remain a significant obstacle. At the same time, the company has already gained positive, albeit still limited, experience in employing foreign workers.

Tetyana Petryk, Head of the Migration Law Practice at Prikhodko & Partners Law Firm, focused on the legalisation of foreign employees. According to her, many of the difficulties stem from visa procedures and migration authority checks, while the grounds for refusing legalisation can sometimes be quite broad. She also suggested that Ukraine could make greater efforts to attract specialists from neighbouring countries and across Europe.

The European Business Association thanks all speakers and participants for the engaging discussion and their commitment to finding solutions to shared labour market challenges.