Challenges of the Labor Market in Ukraine. Mobilizing Human Capital for Sustainable Reconstruction

The panel, chaired by Mr. Adam EBERHARDT, Deputy Director of the SEW UW – Centre for East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, brought together Ms. Svitlana KOVALCHUK, Executive Director of Yalta European Strategy, Ukraine; Mr. Bogdan ZAWADEWICZ, Director of the Geopolitical Risk Analysis Office at BGK Bank, Poland; Ms. Olena TANASIYCHUK, President of the Charity, Resources and Public Initiatives Fund in the Chernivtsi region, Ukraine; Ms. Anya ABDULAKH, representative of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United Kingdom within the Ealing Community & Voluntary Service (ECVS); and Mr. Osamu HATTORI, Chief Representative of the Ukraine Office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan.

Surveys suggest that Ukrainian refugees would consider returning only if they could rely on strong security guarantees and a stable economy. At the same time, the data shows that after two or three years abroad, the likelihood of returning drops sharply as people become more integrated into their host countries. Reopening the borders could also prompt a new wave of departures, especially among men currently under mobilization. Given this, Ukraine needs a two-track approach: creating conditions that make return feasible for those who wish to come back, while also supporting a strong and active diaspora that can contribute to the country’s development through investment and shared expertise.