To address persistent unemployment, Ukraine turns to a digital solution

By the end of 2025, Ukraine’s unemployment rate was estimated at nearly 16% — significantly higher than the average for the European Union. Unemployment rates varied across different regions but exceeded 20% in the eastern regions most affected by hostilities amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.

To help these job seekers, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution last fall to facilitate the large-scale digitalization of the labor market. The reform aims to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate employment, and introduce a service-oriented, data-driven approach within the state employment system.

At the core of this reform is Obriy (the Ukrainian word for “horizon”), a digital employment platform that combines information about public employment services, educational institutions, and employers into a single tool, replacing fragmented and paper-based processes. Integrated into the Diia app and portal, Obriy aims to efficiently connect job seekers with businesses that are hiring.

“Obriy represents a fundamental transformation of how the state supports the labor market,” said Deputy Minister Oleksandr Tsybort from the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture. “For people, it is a simple online journey – from request to recommendation and support towards employment. For businesses, it means less paperwork and more efficient hiring. For the state and communities, it provides high-quality, real-time data for informed decision-making.”

In Ukraine, the mismatch between labor supply and demand is substantial, with the qualifications of the workforce not meeting the needs of employers.

Due to the conscription of men into military service, it is becoming more difficult to fill jobs that were traditionally held by men. Data shows there is a shortage of doctors, electrical fitters for equipment repair, plumbers, electricians, track maintenance workers, welders, auto mechanics, and other skilled professions. Today, women make up 81% of the unemployed, compared to 55% before the war.

Obriy is designed to align retraining programs with the real needs of employers.

“Our focus is to bring people back into the economy and provide businesses with the workforce they need,” said Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev.

How does Obriy work?

In its first stage of implementation, Obriy enables citizens to register their unemployment status, apply for financial assistance,formally terminate employment in temporarily occupied territories, receive training grants, and confirm professional qualifications.

All data is verified automatically through secure exchanges with state registries, minimizing paperwork and accelerating service delivery. Over time, the range of services available through Obriy will expand significantly.

The Obriy platform is being developed by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture and the State Employment Service. The technical requirements for the Obriy digital platform were developed with the support of the Digitalisation for Growth, Integrity and Transparency Project (UK DIGIT), implemented by Eurasia Foundation (EF) and funded by UK Dev, with the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) acting as EF’s implementing partner.

A systemic reform with long-term impact

Obriy is not just a digital tool – it is a cornerstone of Ukraine’s Employment Strategy. By creating a unified digital employment pathway, strengthening institutional capacity, and enabling real-time labor market analytics, the platform lays the foundation for a more inclusive, transparent, and resilient labor market aligned with European standards.

In the future, the platform will also introduce AI-powered tools for career guidance, vacancy recommendations, skills development, and labor market forecasting, allowing users to navigate employment opportunities more effectively.