High unemployment and labour shortages: paradoxes in Ukraine’s wartime labour market (osw.waw.pl)

• Shadow economy: 3 million people, >30% of GDP
• Wage increases for skilled workers, but still below EU peers
• High unemployment amid labour shortages

"Ukraine's labour market faces a paradox: high unemployment coexists with severe labour shortages in skilled professions. The shadow economy, which before the war accounted for over 30% of GDP and involved 3 million people, exacerbates the situation. Wages are rising, especially for specialists, but remain far below EU levels. The war is accelerating structural changes, yet the mismatch between supply and demand persists."