In 2026, salaries for skilled workers increased by a third
In 2026, salaries in the field of skilled labor in Ukraine rose, although the number of job vacancies and market activity declined. At the same time, there remains a shortage of personnel in certain professions.
This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing data from OLX Work.
Also read: Salaries up to 150,000: the highest-paying skilled professions in Ukraine
Main points:
- Income: In 2026, median salaries in the skilled labor sector exceeded 60,000 hryvnias in some areas.
- Growth leaders: Salaries for painters, assemblers, and foremen saw the largest increases.
- Demand: The number of job vacancies for assemblers grew nearly 12 times.
- Decline: Demand for welders in construction fell by 89%, and for tilers by 52%.
- Competition: It is hardest for packers to find work, while electricians and plumbers are critically in short supply.
- Trend: The market is heterogeneous—salaries are rising, but the overall number of job offers from employers is decreasing.
Salaries are rising
According to the platform, skilled professions remain among the highest paid. In some cases, median salaries exceed 60,000 hryvnias.
The highest growth was recorded in the following professions:
- painter in construction – up 43% (to 40,000 hryvnias);
- assembler – up 34% (to 28,000 hryvnias);
- foreman – up 33% (to 50,000 hryvnias);
- stonemason – up 32% (to 56,000 hryvnias).
Salaries for electricians (30,000 hryvnias), welders in construction (35,000 hryvnias), installers in manufacturing (35,000 hryvnias), plumbers (35,000 hryvnias), turners (32,000 hryvnias), and plasterers (up to 63,000 hryvnias) also increased by 15-20%.
A smaller increase (+10-15%) was recorded for builders, construction installers, packers, locksmiths, and carpenters.
At the same time, there are exceptions in the manufacturing sector: salaries for painters decreased by 25% (to 30,000 hryvnias), and for welders by 3% (to 34,000 hryvnias).
Fewer vacancies
Despite rising salaries, the number of job vacancies in the market has mainly decreased. The largest drop in demand among employers is seen in:
- welders in construction – down 89%;
- tilers – down 52%;
- painters in manufacturing – down 47%;
- turners – down 37%;
- plasterers – down 36%.
The number of vacancies has decreased by 20-25% for builders, stonemasons, locksmiths, and carpenters.
At the same time, certain professions are showing increased demand:
- assembler – nearly 12 times;
- welder in manufacturing – more than 6 times;
- excavator operator – up 47%;
- foreman – up 11%.
More candidates than vacancies
Applicant activity has also decreased, but still exceeds the number of job offers. In some cases, competition is very high:
- packer – an average of 21 responses per vacancy;
- general laborer in construction – 18 responses.
For other positions—painter, builder, assembler, tiler, facade worker, plasterer—there are an average of 5-6 responses.
However, the least responses (1-3 per vacancy) are received by:
- plumbers;
- foremen;
- excavator operators;
- electricians;
- welders;
- locksmiths;
- turners;
- carpenters.
What this means
Despite rising salaries, the skilled labor market shows uneven dynamics. The number of vacancies is decreasing, but there is still a shortage of personnel in certain professions.
At the same time, simpler positions remain more competitive among applicants, while employers often lack candidates for more complex specialties.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported on changes in the job market with housing in Ukraine—salaries rose to 30,000 hryvnias, but the number of offers and responses decreased. The highest salaries are in construction, logistics, and manufacturing, while the largest number of vacancies is concentrated in the Kyiv region.
We also reported on the growth of the average salary in Ukraine—in February 2026, it reached 28,321 hryvnias. At the same time, there remains a significant income gap: the highest salaries are in the IT sector, while the lowest are in the cultural sector, with considerable differences also existing between regions.
