In the context of a complex economic situation, the issue of housing affordability remains one of the most pressing for Ukrainians. However, new data shows that the path to owning an apartment can differ significantly depending on one's profession. According to a recent study, skilled workers today have a real chance of acquiring real estate within a few years, while representatives of other sectors may have to wait for decades.

Analysts from OLX Jobs, together with OLX Real Estate, conducted calculations based on the median cost of a one-bedroom apartment on the secondary market, which stands at $50,000. By comparing this figure with median salaries across various professions, experts compiled a ranking of jobs based on the speed of saving for housing.

Leaders of the Labor Market

The absolute leader in the ranking is the plasterer. With an average salary of 70,000 UAH, this specialist can save up for an apartment in just 2.6 years, provided they save their entire income. Second and third places are held by facade workers and masons — they will need about 2.8 years.

The top 5 also includes:

  • Tilers, long-haul truck drivers, and auto body repairmen (about 3 years).
  • Construction workers and foremen (about 3.6 years).
  • Installers, excavator operators, auto electricians, and auto painters (about 4 years).

Experts note that even professions with a salary above 30,000 UAH allow one to solve the housing issue in less than six years. This group includes electricians, couriers, sales representatives, CNC operators, turners, furniture assemblers, and tractor drivers.

Reasons for High Demand for Workers

Representatives of OLX Jobs explain the high income in these sectors by an acute shortage of qualified personnel. It is precisely the lack of specialists in construction and related manual professions that allows them to command some of the most competitive salaries on the Ukrainian labor market today.

Who Will Have to Wait the Longest

The picture changes drastically for representatives of other sectors. For housekeepers, nurses, promoters, and animators, the path to their own housing will take more than 10 years. Dishwashers will need about 11 years, caregivers — almost 12 years. Cleaners will have to save for approximately 13 years, and janitors — about 15 years.

The absolute anti-record holder of the study is the security guard. With a median salary of 7,250 UAH, it will take them about 25 years to save for a single room. Thus, the gap in the speed of saving between the leader and the laggard is almost 10 times.

Real Estate Market Context

It is worth noting that housing costs in Ukraine vary significantly depending on the region. Previously, analysts noted that the most expensive private houses are sold in Lviv and Kyiv, while in frontline cities, housing is several times cheaper. At the same time, the highest rates of price growth are observed in the western regions.

Also, over the last five years, apartments with an area of 20-30 sq. m. have become significantly more expensive. Prices for buying and renting such housing have risen the most in the western part of the country, where the highest demand for micro-apartments for rent has been recorded.