Ukraine launches program to return people aged 50+ to the labor market

Ukraine is launching an internship program for people aged 50+ called "Experience Matters," aimed at helping Ukrainians return to the labor market, First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced on Monday, UNN reports.

Details

"The economy's need for specialists is already one of the greatest challenges for Ukraine. This is particularly felt in the construction and defense industries, where the demand for personnel will only grow. We discussed the labor market forecast with Ella Libanova, head of the M.V. Ptukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine," Svyrydenko wrote on social media.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized: "People are the foundation of our resilience and economic capacity. Every man and woman is needed for the economy under conditions of war and national recovery. We are working on incentives for employers and opportunities for experienced people to return to the labor market."

To this end, the government is launching "Experience Matters" — a national adult internship program for people aged 50+

What is envisioned

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the program involves three key stages:

• training and preparation for a new career stage — updating resumes, adapting to modern labor market requirements, and gaining practical skills;
• meeting with the employer and discussing the format of cooperation;
• employment or a short-term internship at a company with the possibility of employment, during which the candidate becomes familiar with the work process and the employer can assess their suitability for the position.

The program is being implemented jointly with the State Employment Center, businesses, and public partners.

The labor market situation for people aged 50+

The study "Labor Market After 50 Years," as reported by Svyrydenko, showed that people aged 50+ do not drop out of the labor market due to a lack of experience. On the contrary, employers value their reliability. At the same time, 65% of companies cite a digital skills barrier, and 60% acknowledge the influence of age stereotypes during hiring.

"That is why the government is forming a new employment policy in which human capital is the country's main resource, and its focus is not only on job creation but also on removing barriers to work. People of all ages should be able to realize their potential in Ukraine. We invite employers to open internships and people aged 50+ to apply for participation," Svyrydenko stated, publishing a resource with program details and registration information.