The Ukrainian labor market is showing a significant shift towards inclusivity. Employers are increasingly opening vacancies for people with disabilities, offering conditions that often exceed average market indicators. According to research by the OLX Work platform, published by RBC-Ukraine, over the past year, the number of such offers has grown by 17%, while the median salary in this category has increased by 26%.
Growth in Demand and Wages
Statistics record a steady positive trend. In May 2026, employers posted 13,135 vacancies accessible to people with disabilities. For comparison, in May of the previous year, this figure stood at 11,225 offers. Alongside the growth in the number of vacancies, the financial attractiveness of positions has also increased: the median salary rose from 21,000 hryvnias to 26,400 hryvnias.
Specialists Earn Above Average
Analysts note that in many sectors, employers are ready to pay people with disabilities no less, and sometimes even more, than the market average. The leader in wages in this category became plasterers. The median salary for this profession is a substantial 80,000 hryvnias. This is 23% higher than the average wage for plasterers across the entire labor market.
Factors Influencing Inclusivity
Experts link the growth in inclusivity to two key factors. First, the full-scale war has made the issue of barrier-free access in the labor market critically important. Second, the acute shortage of personnel is forcing employers to reconsider their hiring approaches and more actively implement inclusive practices, not limiting themselves to traditional candidates.
Labor Market Context
These changes are taking place against the backdrop of a general transformation of the Ukrainian economy. It was previously reported that ahead of the summer season, the number of vacancies for seasonal work increased, although competition for them also intensified. At the same time, the gender pay gap persists: women earn an average of 27% less than men, especially in the arts, finance, and IT sectors. According to State Statistics Service data, the average salary in the country in the first quarter of 2026 reached 28,885 hryvnias.
