Most companies do not plan to hire foreign employees in the near future, EBA survey finds

16/ 06/ 2026

Currently, 45% of companies do not consider hiring foreign employees, while 41% view such a possibility only theoretically. Another 12% are actively considering this option, and only 2% already have experience employing foreign specialists. These are the findings of a survey conducted among member companies of the European Business Association regarding the experience and barriers associated with hiring foreign employees in Ukraine. Among the key challenges, businesses identify language barriers, difficulties with employee adaptation, bureaucratic procedures, high legalisation costs, and lengthy processing times. Among companies with practical experience in hiring foreign staff, 87% consider the current employment procedures for foreigners to be complicated, including 33% who describe them as excessively complicated. Meanwhile, 13% assess the procedures as simple and clear. The process of hiring a foreign employee in Ukraine typically takes from one to six months: 36% of companies report a timeframe of 1–3 months, 42% indicate 3–6 months, 19% say more than six months, and only 3% manage the process within one month. The most significant additional costs associated with hiring foreign employees are accommodation, document processing, and intermediary services. Most Association member companies hire foreign employees primarily from EU countries and, in isolated cases, from Asian countries. These are most often technical and service personnel or top management/C-level specialists. Nearly half of respondents — namely 48% of companies — hire foreign specialists for a long-term period of one to three years. At the same time, 58% of respondents do not consider hiring foreign employees to be more economically beneficial for their companies, while only 3% hold the opposite view. Among the changes that could simplify the process, businesses primarily mention the digitalisation of procedures, simplification of permits and migration requirements, reduction of costs, and shorter processing times. It is also worth noting that 41% of companies believe that stronger state support for the employment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could reduce the need to hire foreign workers, while another 37% believe it could partially influence the situation. For reference: The survey was conducted between 18 May and 5 June 2026 among executives and HR specialists of member companies of the European Business Association. A total of 100 respondents took part in the survey. Among them, 44% represented large enterprises, 36% medium-sized businesses, and 20% small companies.

These are the findings of a survey conducted among member companies of the European Business Association regarding the experience and barriers associated with hiring foreign employees in Ukraine.

Among the key challenges, businesses identify language barriers, difficulties with employee adaptation, bureaucratic procedures, high legalisation costs, and lengthy processing times.

Among companies with practical experience in hiring foreign staff, 87% consider the current employment procedures for foreigners to be complicated, including 33% who describe them as excessively complicated. Meanwhile, 13% assess the procedures as simple and clear.

The process of hiring a foreign employee in Ukraine typically takes from one to six months: 36% of companies report a timeframe of 1–3 months, 42% indicate 3–6 months, 19% say more than six months, and only 3% manage the process within one month.

The most significant additional costs associated with hiring foreign employees are accommodation, document processing, and intermediary services. Most Association member companies hire foreign employees primarily from EU countries and, in isolated cases, from Asian countries. These are most often technical and service personnel or top management/C-level specialists. Nearly half of respondents — namely 48% of companies — hire foreign specialists for a long-term period of one to three years.

At the same time, 58% of respondents do not consider hiring foreign employees to be more economically beneficial for their companies, while only 3% hold the opposite view.

Among the changes that could simplify the process, businesses primarily mention the digitalisation of procedures, simplification of permits and migration requirements, reduction of costs, and shorter processing times.

It is also worth noting that 41% of companies believe that stronger state support for the employment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could reduce the need to hire foreign workers, while another 37% believe it could partially influence the situation.

For reference:
The survey was conducted between 18 May and 5 June 2026 among executives and HR specialists of member companies of the European Business Association. A total of 100 respondents took part in the survey. Among them, 44% represented large enterprises, 36% medium-sized businesses, and 20% small companies.