Since the beginning of the calendar year, nominal incomes in Ukraine have increased, with the average salary already exceeding UAH 30,000. However, part of the growth is "eaten up" by inflation, the tax burden, higher cost of living, and regional disparities. UNN analyzed how the incomes of Ukrainians have changed over six months, how much money they receive "in hand," and whether the funds are enough to cover all urgent needs.
What trends are observed on the labor market in 2026
The main trend of 2026 is the increase in salaries under pressure from a shortage of personnel against the backdrop of mobilization, disability among the civilian population, and the departure of able-bodied citizens from the country. Therefore, it is difficult for businesses to fill vacancies due to demographic losses and a structural imbalance in the labor market.
This is most felt in sectors related to physical labor:
- manufacturing;
- construction;
- logistics;
- energy;
- repair specialties;
- trade.
It is there that employers are forced to raise wages in order to retain people and not slow down work processes.
The country's main financial regulator - the National Bank (NBU) - directly stated in its April inflation report that the limited supply of labor will support high rates of wage growth. According to the NBU forecast, in 2026 real wages could increase by 11.6%.
However, in practice, this will not automatically lead to an increase in incomes and purchasing power of the working-age population. After all, specialists in scarce professions have a stronger bargaining position, while workers in less competitive segments often receive only minimal indexation or targeted additional payments.
Note that recruiting platforms also record moderate growth: on Work.ua, the average salary for vacancies in January-April moved in the range of approximately UAH 27-29 thousand, while candidates' expectations based on resumes exceeded UAH 30 thousand.
The State Employment Service, in turn, identifies several main trends in the domestic labor market.
According to their data, employers most lack skilled workers, doctors, as well as trade and restaurant business employees.
Among the main trends of the labor market in 2026, the State Employment Center names:
- a reduction in the number of employees;
- limited labor supply and a shortage of personnel
in many professions;
- wage growth.
According to the State Statistics Service, in April 2026, the average number of full-time employees in Ukraine was 5.5 million people. This is 27 thousand more than in April 2025, and 76 thousand more than in January of this year.
The most noticeable increase in the number of employees was recorded in the information and telecommunications sector, energy, and construction. At the same time, a decrease occurred in agriculture, the extractive industry, and real estate operations.
In regional terms, the number of full-time employees increased in:
- Kyiv;
- Lviv;
- Ivano-Frankivsk;
- Zakarpattia regions.
In contrast, a decrease was observed in Vinnytsia, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
According to estimates by the National Bank of Ukraine, in May, business sentiment and economic activity in certain sectors improved.
In particular, the intensification of grain and cargo exports contributed to the recovery of transport, and improved consumer sentiment supported trade.
At the same time, shelling of production facilities and energy infrastructure, as well as weather conditions, restrained activity in metallurgy and the extractive industry.
The labor market continues to experience a significant shortage of personnel, especially skilled workers. At the same time, the outflow of migrants abroad has decreased somewhat since the beginning of the year, although this is largely due to seasonal factors.
As of June 1, 2026, the Unified Vacancy Portal of the State Employment Service, which combines offers from leading job search sites, had accumulated 241 thousand vacancies. This is 3% less than on the corresponding date last year.
The State Employment Center notes that as a result of structural changes in the economy, the problem of structural unemployment is worsening. Some job seekers do not have the skills and abilities that employers need. The situation also varies significantly depending on the region.
The greatest shortage of personnel is observed among skilled workers. This includes, in particular, seamstresses, drivers, electricians, plumbers, electricians, track fitters, contact network electricians, rolling stock repair mechanics, CNC machine operators, turners, carpenters, excavator operators, auto painters, cooks, and bakers.
There is also a shortage of doctors of various specialties, including family doctors, therapists, and pediatricians.
In addition, the demand for trade and restaurant business workers remains consistently high: sellers, cashiers, administrators, baristas, sales representatives, waiters, and security guards. This is explained by significant staff turnover in these areas.
A separate factor affecting the labor market remains the mobilization of men. Due to conscription for military service, it becomes more difficult to fill jobs traditionally held by men. If at the beginning of the war women made up 55% of the unemployed structure, now their share has increased to almost 80%.
Average salary in Ukraine: what it is and how it is calculated
According to the State Statistics Service, in April 2026, the average nominal salary of a full-time employee in Ukraine was UAH 30,515. Compared to March, it increased by 0.5%.
The average indicator is "pulled up" by salaries in the financial sector, IT, public administration, defense, and related areas. This indicator is also influenced by companies with a high share of skilled labor, which accordingly pay their employees. If you look at statistics in small towns, part of the front-line regions, and low-margin sectors, salaries there can be significantly lower than the national average.
The Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) also publishes a separate indicator. It concerns the average salary from which insurance contributions were paid and which is taken into account for calculating pensions.
According to the PFU, this indicator was UAH 21,876.06 for January, UAH 22,455.11 for February, and UAH 23,218.24 for March 2026. It is lower than the State Statistics Service indicator, but shows the base of official incomes from which contributions are actually paid.
Minimum wage 2026: what it is
The minimum wage increased in 2026. The Law "On the State Budget for 2026" set it from January 1 at the level of:
- UAH 8,647 per month;
- UAH 52 per hour.
Compared to 2025, when the minimum wage was UAH 8,000, the increase was UAH 647, or about 8.2%.
In 2026, the amount of wages (monetary support) for employees of the budget sphere and state bodies may change exclusively within the budget allocations for labor remuneration provided for in the state budget. This means that even if individual allowances or bonuses are provided for by sectoral acts, an actual increase is possible only when there is funding for it in the estimate.
Therefore, the "minimum wage" still remains a weak social benchmark. Formally, the minimum wage raises the lower limit of legal labor remuneration, affects the minimum unified social contribution, fines, and certain calculations for businesses. But for most households, such income does not cover the real cost of living.
Tax changes 2026: how they affect the incomes of Ukrainians
For employees, the key tax formula in 2026 remains unchanged: 18% personal income tax and 5% military levy are withheld from the salary. That is, from every UAH 10,000 of accrued salary, a person receives UAH 7,700. Another UAH 2,300 goes to the budget.
Separately, the employer pays a unified social contribution of 22% on the wage fund. In the case of a fully worked month, the amount of the unified social contribution cannot be less than the minimum insurance contribution. And in the case of part-time work, the unified social contribution is accrued on the actually accrued income.
If the employee is entitled to a tax social benefit, the amount will be larger.
That is why raising salaries is more expensive for businesses than is stipulated in the official employment contract.
For example, for an employee to receive an additional UAH 1,000 "in hand," the employer needs to increase the accrued salary by approximately UAH 1,299, and taking into account the unified social contribution, the actual cost of such an increase will be about UAH 1,584.
This explains why businesses often choose to give workers bonuses, incentives, partial revisions, or compensations instead of raising salaries.
The increase in the minimum wage also raises the minimum burden for employers and individual entrepreneurs, as part of tax and social payments are tied to the minimum wage or subsistence minimum. For legal businesses, this means a higher cost of a workplace. For employees, it means a potentially higher official base for pension and social rights, but not necessarily a sharp increase in net income.
As a result, 2026 can be called a year of further recovery of salaries, but not a year of full recovery of purchasing power. Nominal incomes are growing, the average salary is rising, the minimum wage has been revised upward, and the shortage of personnel works in favor of employees. However, inflation, taxes, the high cost of living, and inequality between regions and professions restrain the effect of this growth.
Recall
The Government of Ukraine allocated UAH 6.6 billion among regions to increase salaries for education and social protection workers. The amount of funds was determined individually, taking into account the needs and financial capacity of local budgets.