Plumbers, electricians, and utility workers: Is there a shortage in the job market?

The staffing crisis in Ukraine has sharply impacted the utility sector since the onset of the full-scale war. Currently, there is a high demand for skilled workers, electricians, and plumbers, as well as a shortage of janitors and maintenance workers.

For more information on current job openings for utility workers and the salaries being offered in this sector, visit RBK-Ukraine.

Labor Market Lacks "Workforce"

The situation in Ukraine's labor market remains challenging. Unlike the pre-war period, when there were not enough jobs, the current structural unemployment is exacerbated by a shortage of personnel in many professions.

According to RBK-Ukraine, the State Employment Service (SES) reports that the greatest shortage of workers is among skilled trades.

Due to military actions, the migration of Ukrainians abroad, and the conscription of men and women for military service, the supply of labor is limited.

Moreover, the SES notes that the gender structure of registered unemployed individuals has changed significantly.

At the beginning of the war, women made up 55% of the unemployed, but today that figure has risen to 78%, and in some regions, it is as high as 80%. This has created certain challenges in filling vacancies for skilled workers, including in the utility sector.

Which Workers Are in Short Supply

According to the State Employment Service, the following workers are currently in demand in the utility sector: plumber, electrician, emergency repair technician, welder, excavator operator, carpenter, etc.

1Photo: Ukraine faces a shortage of utility workers (freepik.com)

As of October 25, 2024, the "Unified Job Portal," which aggregates information from the SES and leading Ukrainian job search websites, lists:

• 1,400 job offers for electricians;
• 1,000 for electricians and janitors;
• 600 vacancies for plumber-technicians;
• 500 vacancies for building maintenance workers.

Salaries of Utility Workers

The average salary for an electrician, according to the "Unified Job Portal," is 15,000 UAH, but there are positions offering salaries exceeding 25,000 UAH.

Industrial enterprises, manufacturing companies, utility organizations, the Kyiv Metro, heating plants, and others are seeking qualified workers with experience. Responsibilities will include ensuring the continuous operation of electrical equipment and servicing electrical installations and networks.

2Screenshot dcz.gov.ua

The job of a janitor is available in residential complexes, homeowners' associations, and various enterprises and organizations. Experience in these roles is usually not required, but the job demands physical endurance.

The average salary for a janitor is slightly above the minimum wage at 9,000 UAH. However, there are job postings on recruitment portals offering salaries of over 12,000 UAH.

According to robota.ua, a janitor for the "Epicenter" chain in Kyiv can earn between 14,000-15,000 UAH for cleaning areas adjacent to stores and parking lots, as well as collecting waste from bins. The work schedule is 3 on, 3 off, and meals are provided.

3Screenshot robota.ua

In Prostor cosmetics stores in Lviv, a janitor can earn 10,000 UAH. On the "Unified Job Portal," there are job offers for janitors in a school in the Darnytsia district of Kyiv with a salary of 12,000 UAH, while "Kyivteploenergo" offers 9,700 UAH for a janitor position.

Qualified plumbers are in high demand among employers. Workers with professional skills are sought for tasks related to the calibration of water and heating meters. Plumbers are also typically responsible for performing repair and installation work in water supply, sewage, and heating systems.

The average salary offered is 13,000 UAH (data from the "Unified Job Portal"), with higher-paying opportunities available (over 25,000 UAH in Kyiv, according to Work.ua), depending on skills and experience.

4

Screenshot Work.ua

Electricians are offered an average salary of 17,000 UAH. This position requires specialized education and experience.

The average salary for building maintenance workers (custodians) is 10,000 UAH, but it can be higher depending on job functions and levels of responsibility.

5Screenshot Work.ua

For instance, a position for a manager of a business-class building in Kyiv is offering a salary of 30,000 UAH and is looking for someone knowledgeable about how engineering systems function, who can organize and oversee repair work and manage documentation.

Preparation was based on information from the State Employment Service at the request of RBK-Ukraine, as well as data from job search portals Work.ua and robota.ua.

Previously, we reported on which regions of Ukraine lead in the number of job vacancies, as well as what specific jobs and salaries are offered.

RBK-Ukraine has also compiled the most popular job vacancies in Kyiv for candidates without experience.