Employment and business opportunities in Ukraine
Looking for a job in Ukraine? The employment page provides information on unemployment assistance and job search, business grants from Ukrainian government and development organizations, as well as opportunities for upskilling and training. As an employer you can also get support for hiring IDPs.
Job search
State Employment Service
Unemployed Ukrainians can seek assistance at an employment centre, where they can get professional advice on employment and skills development. After registration at a selected state employment service branch, you can receive unemployment assistance based on your documented work experience and paid social contributions over the years.
The minimum amount of unemployment benefit is 1,500 UAH. From October 1, 2024, the amount of the minimum benefit increased to UAH 3,600 (instead of UAH 2,500) for the following people:
- who did not have 7 months of insurance experience during the year before obtaining the status of unemployed and received 1,500 HRN before the increase
- who worked for at least 7 months before unemployment and received 2,500 HRN before the increase
- IDPs who do not have the proof of insurance experience and received 2,500 HRN before the increase
Unemployment assistance is not provided to people without recorded social contributions (with exceptions).
How can I sign up at a State Employment Service
- online through State Employment Centre
- in person, during a visit to the centre – find the closest centre here
- through Diia – Obtaining Unemployment status
Documents* needed for application in person
– national passport or other identification documents (eDocument is also accepted)
– residence permit or other for foreign nationals in Ukraine
– documents that certify education level, work experience,
– tax number – a proof of registration in the state register of individual taxpayers (РНОКПП)
* Please note that if you are an internally displaced person or live in the areas occupied by Russian Federation/areas of active hostilities, you can apply for assistance through a simplified procedure
What services does the State Employment Service provide?
Unified Job Portal – Jobs in Ukraine
If you want to look for jobs yourself, explore the Unified Job Portal. The Ministry of Economy and the State Employment Service initiated the portal’s creation in the spring of 2022. The portal is a pool of vacancies in cooperation with the 5 biggest job aggregators: Work.ua, Robota.ua, GRC.ua, NovaRobota and Pidbir.
Alternatively, you can search for jobs through:
- Company websites
- Recruitment agencies
- Ask local businesses if they have any vacancies.
- Job fairs
- Local ads and newspapers
Remote jobs in Ukraine
Employ Ukraine is a portal where skilled Ukrainians can find jobs in foreign companies. The portal offers both remote jobs in Ukraine and jobs abroad and for Ukrainians affected by the war.
Skills training programmes
- Voucher for study — an opportunity to learn a new specialization or improve professional skills at the state’s expense. You can acquire a new profession or specialization by obtaining a training voucher from the State Employment Service (voucher value – 30,000 UAH).
- CREATE UKRAINE — a pilot project, aimed to bring change-makers – young Ukrainians who have acquired valuable international experience – back to the homeland to apply their skills in building a robust economic system and implementing vital reforms and overcoming the challenges of war. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. To ensure they can maximize the impact of their work, the young professionals receive comprehensive support and professional development opportunities from the Kyiv School of Economics.
Apply for the programme here. The application period is over as of August 2024 – please wait for the next one. - Training in Creative and IT Industries for Women — free online training for Ukrainian women in Ukraine and abroad from the Projector Foundation. It is planned that around 1,000 Ukrainian women will undergo training. The application period is over as of September 2024 – please wait for the next one.
- Diia Osvita – free educational series, podcasts and more for different age groups and professions.
- Business skills learning opportunity – a 14-week training course to help you start a career in SalesForce ecosystem. Apply for the course here.
Start and develop your business
Grants for businesses
- Vlasna Sprava — the government grant programme for entrepreneurship development. A prerequisite for participation is the creation of new jobs. You can receive a grant of up to 250,000 UAH* to start or scale up your business. Apply for a grant here.
*Up to 500,000 UAH for businesses in Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast
- Vlasna sprava for Youth (up until 25 years old). As a young entrepreneur, you can receive a grant of up to 150,000 UAH to start or scale up your business. A condition of creating jobs does not apply here, however, a business owner must register as an individual entrepreneur (ФОП).
- Grants for Veterans and Their Spouses — You can receive a grant of up to 250,000 UAH, 500,000 UAH, and 1,000,000 UAH to start or develop a business as a veteran or their spouse. Apply for a grant here.
- Create! — the grant program for women entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector. You can receive a grant of up to $15,000 for a business in the processing industry.
- Grants for Processing Enterprises — the government programme to stimulate and develop processing enterprises. You can receive a grant of up to 8,000,000 UAH to start or expand processing enterprises.
- SviySad – the programme to start or develop your own horticulture, viticulture, berries. The project will be funded on terms of co-financing.
Made in Ukraine
Made in Ukraine is a national programme that aims to promote and reward operating Ukrainian businesses, as well as support the creation of new micro and small businesses.
Join national cashback programme as a Ukrainian business – here
As a business owner, you can visit Made in Ukraine offices and get support with writing a business plan, documentation, grant applications and more.
Made in Ukraine Offices
- Sumy, str. Stepana Bandery 45
- Chernihiv, str. Kotsiubynskoho, 40
- Chernivtsi, str. Vorobkevycha 37
- Kryvyi Rih, str. Cosmonauts 1
- Kamianets Podilskyi, str. Hunska 9
- Poltava, str. Sinna 45
- Uzhhorod, str. Novaka 45
- Odesa, st. Henerala Petrova 22 V
- Vinnytsia, st. Striletska 3 A
- Dnipro, str. Aviatsiina 41
- Lviv, str. Kniahyni Olhy 122
- Obukhiv, str. Volodymyra Chaplinskoho 3 B
- Zhytomyr, st. Polova 6A
- Zviagel, st. Bankova 7
- Zaporizhzhia, str. Rekordna 16 B
- Kharkiv, str. Shevchenka 137 A
- Pryluky, str. Vokzalna 46
Affordable loans 5-7-9
Affordable loans 5-7-9 is a state programme that aims to support the development of small business.
An individual entrepreneur (ФОП) or a legal entity that participate in the programme can get a loan up to 50 million HRN with a 5, 7 or 9% interest rate. The more jobs your business creates, the lower the interest rate is (but not lower than 5%).
Financial opportunities marketplace
Here you can find financial opportunities for businesses of different specializations. Examples of available grant programmes: automation and expansion of textile enterprises, relocation and restoration, innovative solutions in agricultural sphere, digital solutions development, support and development of women entrepreneurs, and other.
Please pay attention to the deadlines for participation in selected programmes.
Compensation programmes
Municipal Nanny – compensation for childcare services
Municipal nanny is a compensation programme for parents/guardians of children under 6 years old who require additional* care. After parents sign an agreement with a nanny, they can apply for a compensation from the government. The compensation amount is calculated individually based on hours of provided childcare. The government compensates 100% of a minimal hourly wage (but not more than 165 hours per month per child).
*Eligibility criteria
Apply for the service in person in a local social security body or send the documents by registered mail. The list of required documents and nuances of the programme are described here. The decision on compensation is made within 10 working days.
Compensation for childcare services “Municipal Nanny” is provided in the event of caring for:
- children under 3 years old whose parents are internally displaced people (with no serious illnesses)
- children up to 6 years old who require additional care
- a child with a disability or if one of the parents, guardians is a person with a disability of group I or II.
- Children up to 6 years old who live in the territories with limited/no access to preschool education institutions (for example, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy, Chernihiv oblasts)
A nanny must be registered as an individual entrepreneur (ФОП).
How to apply:
Apply for the service in person in a local social security body or send the documents by registered mail. The list of required documents and nuances of the programme are described here. The decision on compensation is made within 10 working days.
Compensation programme for farmers
A new compensation program in Ukraine is set to expedite the land demining process by financially supporting farmers. The program will reimburse farmers for 80% of the demining costs and provide compensation for those who have already cleared their lands. This initiative aims to stimulate a competitive market for demining services, ultimately reducing costs and speeding up the demining process. Farmers who have demined their lands between February 2022 and April 2024, as well as those planning to start the process, can participate.
Application details
To apply, send the required documents signed by an electronic digital signature to [email protected].
- a copy of the contract with the certified operator for the provision of demining services
- copies of acts of services provided, confirming demining
- proof of payment for provided demining services
Other opportunities
Grants from the European Commission – Culture and creativity
Opportunities for artists, experts in culture, civil activists and more from the European Commission. Check the call for applications for different programmes here.
Ready for EU
The European Commission’s Business Bridge project, which will provide financial support to Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by war, is open for applications.
The project, launched under the ReadyForEU initiative on 11 March, will provide €3.75 million in assistance to selected Ukrainian businesses, who can apply for financial assistance, supporting their path to the single market. Businesses can receive financial support of €2500 for five types of activities related to entering the EU market.
Find more information about the project on Diia Business. The project is active until June 2025.
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs – Ukraine
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs allows new Ukrainian entrepreneurs to gain business skills and experience abroad. The Commission selected Enterprise Europe Network partner Bayern Innovativ, in collaboration with a consortium of other business support organizations, to implement the project and select up to 1 500 Ukrainian SMEs beneficiaries. Each will receive financial assistance of €2 500 covering business services, such as market research, legal, organizational, or financial advice, participation in EU trade fairs, or legal guidance on intellectual property rights. Beyond empowering Ukrainian SMEs, the Business Bridge project seeks to provide new business partnerships for EU companies.
About the programme – General information, Factsheet in English
Other programmes and Support to Ukraine
EU4Business programme
EU4Business, supports Ukrainian enterprises. Under the EU4Business programme, funded by the European Union and the German government, Ukrainian micro, small and medium-sized (MSME) with export potential and innovative capabilities can receive 100 grants of up to €10,000 each for recovery, development, and sustainability.
Please find the application details here. The application period for 2024 is September 2-30.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Ukraine
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) offers loan and equity finance, guarantees, leasing facilities, trade finance, and professional development support programs. Small projects are financed both directly by the EBRD or through “financial intermediaries.” The Bank’s priorities respond to changing circumstances, recovery programs have been initiated and resilience package for Ukraine was established following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
- Loans: Loans are tailored to meet the requirements of the project. The credit risk may be taken entirely by the EBRD or partly syndicated to the market.
- Equity investments: These may be undertaken in a variety of forms. When the EBRD takes an equity stake, it expects an appropriate return on its investment and will only take a minority position.
- Guarantees: EBRD provides guarantees to help borrowers gain access to financing through their Trade Facilitation Programme.
How to apply:
For small loans: MSMEs should contact local banks directly to access finance and check local requirements and investment limits. Loans to micro, small and medium businesses are available from these banks across the EBRD region.
For very big loans (up to 3 million euros) – Apply here.
USAID programmes
USAID Competitive Economy Programme (CEP). Discover opportunities for professional training, thematic events, business development and more.
Angel One – opportunities for Ukrainian startups
Are you working in technology sector and need support to boost your new business? Pitch your startup to the investors and receive $50-200 thousands for startup development. Apply for the project here.
Compensation for employers
Can I receive support for hiring IDPs?
State Employment Service
The Ukrainian State Employment Service and the Ministry of Reintegration are actively facilitating employment for internally displaced persons by offering services such as job matching, career counseling, and vouchers for training, or English classes. Employers interested in hiring can post job openings on their website and receive referrals for qualified candidates. Furthermore, they can arrange for training at the vocational and technical education centers of the State Employment Service (CPTO DSZ) for current or future job openings. Employers may also choose to fund further education for their existing employees to help them acquire new skills or improve their qualifications.
Compensatory payments for employing IDPs
In March 2022, the Government of Ukraine established a procedure under Resolution #331 to compensate businesses for labor costs associated with employing internally displaced persons (IDPs) during martial law. Public companies and state authorities can receive compensation equivalent to the minimum wage in Ukraine for each officially employed IDP. This compensation period is set at three months for all IDPs and six months for those with disabilities. Additionally, under certain conditions, employers can also claim reimbursement for unified social tax expenses.
Furthermore, a separate state subsidy related to Resolution #696 offers employers financial support for hiring unemployed IDPs or for covering retraining and professional development costs, with a monthly cap of up to two minimum wages.
Recruitment support
Employers in Ukraine can leverage a variety of platforms to connect with refugee and displaced individuals seeking employment. One such resource is EmployUkraine, which is entirely free and allows companies to find candidates for both remote and on-site positions. Additionally, foreign employers can hire internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine through this platform using an Employer of Record arrangement. Other job-matching websites available in Ukraine include Robota.ua and Work.ua.
On the website of the State Labor Inspection, employers can find an FAQ section addressing employment-related questions during wartime. They can also sign up for online consultations to discuss various issues, including labor relations, wage structures, working hours documentation, and the creation of safe and healthy work environments.