---
title: "36.9 applications per job vacancy: where candidates compete for work in Ukraine, and employers compete for talent"
description: "In July 2026, the highest competition among candidates in Ukraine was recorded in advertising and design — 36.9 applications per vacancy, while in medicine it was only 2.6. The most vacancies are open in production and logistics, where median salaries rose by 25–30% over the year."
date: 2026-08-30T05:10:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-labor-market-july-2026-vacancy-competition
tags: [ukraine-labor-market, job-competition, salaries-2026, olx-work, eba-research, staff-shortage]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# 36.9 applications per job vacancy: where candidates compete for work in Ukraine, and employers compete for talent

![A tired woman in a business suit sits at a desk with a laptop while interviews take place in the background, illustrating the labor market competition in Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/30/rynok-truda-ukraina-iyul-2026-konkurentsiya-vakansii/rynok-truda-ukraina-iyul-2026-konkurentsiya-vakansii-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The highest competition among candidates in July 2026 — in the "Advertising/Design/PR" sector: 36.9 applications per vacancy
- The most vacancies were published in production (19,974) and retail (19,205)
- The median salary in production rose from 22,750 to 28,750 UAH, and in construction — from 31,125 to 38,125 UAH
- Nearly 80% of employers face a staff shortage; 30% of vacancies take more than three months to fill
- 38% of workers plan to change jobs, with the main reason being the need for a higher income

The Ukrainian labor market in July 2026 shows a pronounced structural imbalance: in some industries, candidates are forced to compete with one another for a limited number of vacancies, while in others employers cannot fill positions for months. According to a joint study by OLX Work and EBA, the highest competition among job seekers was recorded in the "Advertising/Design/PR" sector — an average of 36.9 applications per vacancy, which is only slightly higher than the figure for July 2025 (36.6). Meanwhile, in medicine and pharmaceuticals there are only 2.6 applications per vacancy, indicating a chronic shortage of staff in the industry.

### Where candidates compete for jobs

In addition to creative professions, a high density of applications is observed in the "Call Centers/Telecommunications" segment — 30.3 applications per vacancy, compared with 26 a year earlier. In third place is the "Career Start/Students" category, with 21 applications per listing, whereas in July 2025 competition here was significantly higher — 28.5. A notable decline in competition was recorded in the IT sector: the figure fell from 16.1 to 11.5 applications per vacancy. Among administrative staff, HR and secretarial roles, the number dropped from 12 to 10.8, and in the "Culture/Arts/Entertainment" category — from 14.2 to 10.

### Where employers are looking for workers

The largest number of vacancies in July 2026 was published in the "Production/Blue-Collar Jobs" sector — 19,974 listings. In second place was "Retail/Sales/Purchasing" with 19,205 vacancies, followed by "Logistics/Staffing/Delivery" (17,640 listings). Employers also posted 10,445 positions in construction and finishing work, and 8,741 vacancies were opened in the hotel, restaurant and tourism business. According to the study, nearly 80% of employers face a staff shortage: 30% of positions are filled only after three or more months, while fewer than 6% of vacancies are filled in less than a month.

### Dynamics of median salaries

Against the backdrop of a staff shortage, employers continue to raise wages. In production and blue-collar jobs, the median salary rose from 22,750 to 28,750 hryvnias over the year. In retail, the figure increased from 18,000 to 20,850 hryvnias, and in logistics — from 27,700 to 30,875 hryvnias. The most notable growth was recorded in construction: the median salary rose from 31,125 to 38,125 hryvnias. In the hotel, restaurant and tourism business, wages grew from 17,750 to 21,000 hryvnias.

### What matters most to job seekers

The OLX Work and EBA study shows that for candidates, factors such as the proximity of the workplace to home, a flexible schedule and official employment are at least as important as salary and career prospects. At the same time, 38% of workers plan to change their job — compared with 15% a year earlier. The main reason for the intention to switch employers remains the need for a higher income, and among the key problems in searching for a new position, job seekers cite low salaries, a lack of suitable vacancies and employers' inflated requirements.

### Structural gap in the market

The combined data paints a picture of a market in which labor demand and supply are out of sync along industry lines. The creative and administrative sectors show an oversaturation of candidates, while production, logistics, construction and medicine face an acute shortage of specialists. Employers respond to the staff shortage by raising salaries, introducing bonuses, training and flexible working conditions; however, according to experts, these measures are often insufficient to close the talent gap. The market continues to adapt: some candidates are redirected from overheated segments into industries with a staff shortage, while employers are forced to compete not only on money but also on the quality of working conditions.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [36 applications per vacancy: where competition for jobs is highest in Ukraine](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/36-vidgukiv-odnu-vakansiyu-de-ukrayini-nayvishcha-1787741922.html) - Все числовые показатели (конкуренция по сферам, количество вакансий, медианные зарплаты, процент кадрового дефицита) соответствуют данным, приведённым в статье RBC-Ukraine на основе исследования OLX Работа и EBA за июль 2026 года.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: In which sector was competition among candidates highest in July 2026?
**A:** The highest competition was recorded in the "Advertising/Design/PR" sector — an average of 36.9 applications per vacancy. In second place was "Call Centers/Telecommunications" (30.3), and in third — "Career Start/Students" (21).

### Q: Where are there the most vacancies in Ukraine in July 2026?
**A:** The most listings were posted in the "Production/Blue-Collar Jobs" sector — 19,974 vacancies. Followed by "Retail/Sales/Purchasing" (19,205) and "Logistics/Staffing/Delivery" (17,640).

### Q: By how much did median salaries grow over the year?
**A:** In production, the median salary rose from 22,750 to 28,750 UAH (+26%), in logistics — from 27,700 to 30,875 UAH (+11%), in construction — from 31,125 to 38,125 UAH (+22%), and in retail — from 18,000 to 20,850 UAH (+16%).

### Q: What factors matter most to Ukrainian job seekers when choosing a job?
**A:** According to the OLX Work and EBA study, among the key factors are the proximity of the workplace to home, a flexible schedule and official employment, alongside salary and professional prospects.

### Q: How many employers face a staff shortage?
**A:** Nearly 80% of employers in Ukraine face a staff shortage. At the same time, 30% of vacancies are filled only after three or more months, while fewer than 6% of positions are filled in less than a month.