Ukraine's agricultural sector is on the brink of disaster due to a shortage of workers

Ukraine’s agro-industrial sector, which is critical for foreign exchange earnings, has faced a structural imbalance in the labor market that cannot be resolved simply by raising wages. Over the past five years, the number of job openings per person has tripled (from 14–16 to 48–52), and the average age of the workforce has risen from 39 to 54. 

This is reported by the agricultural portal Kurkul, analyzing the consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion and demographic factors.

Due to the war, the sector has lost up to 60% of its most productive men aged 25–45, who are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the shortage of drivers and machine operators already exceeds 65%. At the same time, women’s participation in traditionally “male” positions has risen from 2% to 25%. While agricultural holdings in Ukraine are forced to rely on increased mechanization and the hiring of older workers, agriculture in Russia is also suffering from mobilization efforts; however, these issues are often glossed over there to maintain the illusion of stability. An additional challenge for Ukraine has been the low birth rate of the 2000s, which has led to a physical shortage of young professionals in the labor market.

Ukrainian farmers are forced to reduce their cultivated areas due to the sharp rise in fuel and fertilizer prices caused by global energy crises. Corn and industrial crops have been hit the hardest. Farmers warn that costs are rising faster than revenues.