The Ministry of Development and the World Bank presented a study on overcoming the shortage of personnel in Ukraine's transport sector

The Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in collaboration with the World Bank, presented a study entitled “On the Road to Recovery: Addressing Labor Shortages in Ukraine's Transport Sector,” which assesses human resource capacity and skills in the transport industry in the context of war, reconstruction, and European integration.

The study covers road freight and passenger transport, as well as urban public transport, and is based on an analysis of more than 240,000 job vacancies from a job search service, a forecast of labor market demand until 2035, interviews with stakeholders, and employer surveys. 

During the presentation, Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, emphasized that the shortage of personnel is already one of the key constraints to the recovery of the transport industry.

According to the study, Ukraine's transport sector faces a chronic shortage of skilled workers, which has worsened since 2022 due to war, mobilization, migration, and an aging workforce. The most acute shortage is among truck and passenger transport drivers, as well as maintenance and logistics specialists.

As of 2024–2025, about one-third of employers report difficulties in hiring employees, and almost half of the vacancies in transport are for drivers. According to forecasts, employment in the automotive and urban transport sector could grow by at least 30% by 2035, further exacerbating the need for systemic solutions. 

The study also revealed a significant gap between education and labor market needs: training programs are often outdated, lacking practical training, modern equipment, and teachers with relevant skills. It is separately noted that women and veterans remain underrepresented in the workforce, although they perform well in the transport sector when barriers are removed.

Key recommendations include strengthening coordination between the state, business, and educational institutions, updating professional standards and curricula in line with current EU requirements and standards, and scaling up lifelong retraining and upskilling programs.

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