Wages Are Rising, but There Is a Shortage of Workers in the Agricultural Sector
The Ukrainian agricultural sector continues to face a severe labor shortage. Although 83% of agricultural companies planned to increase employee salaries by 10–20% in 2026, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find tractor operators, drivers, engineers, and grain elevator workers.
The labor shortage in Ukraine’s agricultural sector has become a long-term market characteristic that companies will have to contend with for years to come. This information was published by Latifundist, based on findings from Agrohub analysts following a study of the agricultural labor market for the first half of 2026. The study involved 16 agricultural holdings with a combined land bank of 2.2 million hectares, operating in crop production, livestock farming, and grain storage.
In 2026, 83% of Ukrainian agricultural companies planned to increase employee wages by 10–20% on average. However, the labor shortage remains acute.
The most difficult positions to fill are tractor operators, machinery operators, drivers, engineers, and grain elevator workers. The shortage of specialists is already affecting the timelines, quality, and cost of production operations.
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