Mobilization has caused a personnel crisis in the agricultural sector: almost 40% of agricultural companies are looking for employees

The Ukrainian agricultural sector is increasingly facing a personnel shortage - 39% of agricultural companies report serious difficulties in finding personnel, in particular qualified employees. This is evidenced by the results of a large-scale study "Assessment of the Labor Market of Ukraine 2024–2025", conducted by Helvetas Ukraine in partnership with the State Employment Service and the Federation of Employers of Ukraine.

Experts call mobilization the key reason for the shortage of labor in the agricultural sector. As noted by the Deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council Dmytro Kokhan, today this factor has the greatest impact on the personnel situation:

 “First of all, it is a shortage of personnel, especially qualified specialists. But frankly, the main problem is mobilization.”

Kokhan acknowledged that protecting the state remains a priority, but stressed that the agricultural sector is also critical to the country's economic stability and food security. Therefore, the consequences of the loss of workers for agriculture are already being felt - both in terms of reduced production volumes and difficulties with seasonal work.

Another serious challenge is urbanization and demographic shifts. The outflow of young people from rural areas to cities and abroad is deepening the shortage of personnel, especially in remote regions where production facilities remain understaffed.

As part of the study, analysts surveyed about 55,000 employers, who together provide employment for more than 4.2 million Ukrainians. According to their data, the demand for specialists in the agricultural sector is growing, while the supply continues to decrease, especially against the backdrop of ongoing military operations.

The study participants also pointed to the need to review business support policies in frontline and rural regions, including the creation of flexible mechanisms for attracting employees, training and retraining programs, as well as possible targeted armor for key industry specialists.