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Ukraine is already attracting migrants for construction jobs; the country's working population has decreased by 40%. There is a severe shortage of workers in the Ukrainian construction industry, with the deficit reaching 30-40%, which is why Ukrainian companies are starting to attract migrants for work. It is reported that as of January 1, 298,992 people were officially employed in Ukraine’s construction industry. Compared to data from two years ago, this indicator has decreased by 25.4%. During the war, people have been recruited to work in Ukraine from such countries as Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and African countries. According to the Razumkov Center, the working population in Ukraine in 2024 decreased by 40% compared to 2021 due to demographic processes. The director of the Institute of Demography, Ella Libanova, stated that Ukraine will not be able to fully compensate for its losses in the labor market after the war due to the large number of able-bodied people who left and went abroad. To restore the economy, Ukraine needs to add more than 4.5mn workers.
Ukrainian refugees will be paid to return home from Europe. The
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a decision on financial aid payment to Ukrainians who decided to return home after the end of hostilities.
Poland, Czechia, Germany ask EU to help cover expenses for hosting refugees from Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. The leaders of three states sent a joint letter with their request for funding to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
4.5.2 Nominal wages dynamics
Ukrainians in the EU earn more than €1,100 per month, while 13% of families in Ukraine lack money for food. According to EWL Migration Platform research, Ukrainians in Germany earn €1,334 per month on average. This is approximately 300% higher than the average salary in Ukraine. In the Netherlands, the average net wage of Ukrainians is €1,104 per month, which is about 200% higher than the average salary in Ukraine. At the same time, 70% of respondents in Germany and 73% in the Netherlands rate their financial situation as "average." However, most Ukrainian refugees in Germany (63%) and the Netherlands (81%) rely on local financial assistance. Meanwhile, 13% of families in Ukraine lack money even for basic necessities. The share of those who believe that their family's financial situation will improve soon is 7%, that it will worsen, 28%, and that it will not change, 51%. However, in June Ukrainians slightly improved their assessment of their well-being: 14% rated it as "good" (10.5% in December), and 37% gave a "bad" rating.
4.5.3 Retail sector dynamics
Retail is gaining momentum: Turnover in 2023 exceeded pre-war figures by ₴100B. Unlike in 2022, when companies’ income significantly decreased due to Russia's occupation of large areas of Ukraine, looting, shelling, constant air strikes, and blackouts, last year Ukrainian retailers managed not only to adapt to new working conditions but also to resume their development. In 2021, net sales amounted to ₴1.44T, but in 2022, this indicator fell to ₴ 1.16T. However, in 2023 it reached ₴1.54T, i.e., 30% more than in 2022, and exceeded the industry's pre-war turnover amount by ₴100B. Given the official
63 UKRAINE Country Report July 2024 www.intellinews.com