Ukrzaliznytsia has announced the introduction of a package of financial incentives aimed at attracting young specialists to the railway industry. The carrier has launched two key programs: corporate scholarships for final-year students and a "Start Bonus" for graduates who have already completed their education. The initiative is designed to address the growing shortage of personnel in working and engineering-technical positions, which the company considers critical for infrastructure modernization.
Corporate scholarships: terms and eligibility
The corporate scholarship program is intended for final-year students of colleges, vocational-technical schools, and universities studying on a full-time (day) basis. The scholarship is paid for six months — from January to June — and amounts to 50% of the minimum wage, which currently equates to approximately 4,000 hryvnia per month. To participate, students must pass a competitive selection process and sign a corresponding agreement with the company. Upon completing their studies, graduates are required to take up employment with Ukrzaliznytsia within six months and work at the company for at least six months.
"Start Bonus": a one-time payment of up to 78,000 hryvnia
For those who have already obtained their education and are ready to start working, the carrier offers the "Start Bonus" program. It applies when taking up scarce working and engineering-technical positions. The maximum one-time payment is 78,000 hryvnia. The program covers a narrow list of specialties in which the company faces the most acute staff shortages, including positions of locomotive drivers, dispatchers, electromechanics, and other technical specialists.
The PRO youth community and overseas internships
In addition to direct financial incentives, Ukrzaliznytsia is developing the PRO youth community, which organizes hackathons, educational programs, and internships for new employees, including outside Ukraine. These initiatives are aimed at building corporate culture and retaining young specialists in the long term. Photos from the company's events show young people getting familiar with locomotive crew simulators and digital traffic management systems, which underscores the practical focus of the training.
Digitalization and expanded services for passengers
The launch of the staffing programs comes against the backdrop of the carrier's large-scale digital transformation. Ukrzaliznytsia is preparing an update to its mobile app, which will allow passengers to buy railway and bus tickets in a single interface. As part of this initiative, stations in five Ukrainian cities have already been transformed into multimodal transport hubs. In addition, passengers on certain routes can now order books directly when purchasing tickets — a service that, according to the company, helps support Ukrainian publishers and makes the journey more comfortable.
Strategic context: why now
Experts note that Ukraine's railway industry faces a dual challenge: the need to restore and modernize infrastructure after destruction, and the simultaneous aging of the workforce. Financial incentives for young people — scholarships, one-time bonuses, internships — are part of a broader strategy for retaining and attracting staff. In a situation where competition for qualified personnel in the labor market is intensifying, the carrier is betting on early engagement of students and transparent career growth conditions.
