Human resource shortage remains one of the biggest threats to the agricultural sector in Ukraine
Ukrainian agri-food sector share accounting for 14% of GDP, nearly 15% of employment and 59% of exports (2024). In view of ongoing war and its consequences, relocation of population and business and, of course, mobilization, Ukrainian agri-food sector experience significant shortage of personnel for high-skilled technical positions as well as working positions.
EU-integration processes in Ukraine require adaptation and introduction in Ukrainian agriculture many norms and approaches that have not been previously in place. Both challenges can be addressed via structural agro educational process as well as retraining of the specialists from other industries.
The office of the agricultural councellor of the Dutch Embassy in Kyiv and the programs of the Dutch Government in Ukraine support agricultural education in Ukraine at various levels by cooperating with agrarian universities and institutes of applied science, vocational schools, high schools, as well as by facilitating post-graduate and training programs for agro professionals (see full overview of the projects).
Beeld: © toolkit.nl
Opinion: Oleh Khomenko, General Director of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club
Human resource shortage remains one of the biggest threats to the agricultural sector, because without investments in training new specialists, the development of processing and scaling of the industry will be hampered
, emphasized Oleh Khomenko, General Director of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club, at the Grain Storage Forum.
The demographic situation in the country is becoming increasingly difficult for business, as the population of Ukraine is decreasing at a rate of about 300 thousand people per year, which in three years amounts to almost a million lost human resources.
The future of the labor market is of particular concern: this year, only 252 thousand schoolchildren started schooling. This means that in 10-11 years, the total number of students for all professions will be critically low.
The situation is complicated by the disproportion in the choice of professions. This year's admission campaign showed that one of the most popular areas is psychology, while technical, engineering and agronomic specialties are not in demand. This creates a risk that even with the availability of funds for automation and salary increases, the agricultural sector will lack specialists for agrifood processing facilities.
Despite ambitious plans for European integration and the development of trade with the EU, the realization of this potential depends not only on political decisions or investments in the material and technical base, but primarily on the availability of professionals.
We can talk about potential investments in processing and exports, about the political and economic prospects of joining the EU, which will contribute to the strengthening of the agricultural sector. But in order to realize this, we need working hands and specialists who know their business. Therefore, the largest and most important investment in the near future for all of us is an investment in people. Without this, success is impossible
”, says Oleg Khomenko.