A new EU-backed roadmap setting out proposals to tackle a shortage of skilled construction workers in Ukraine was presented on 5 August at an event in Kyiv organised by the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine to mark Construction Workers’ Day.
The Roadmap for Skilled Workforce Provision in Ukraine’s Construction Sector 2026–2030 sets out measures intended to build a long-term training system that better matches what employers need, the European External Action Service (EEAS) reported on Thursday.
Demand for workers is expected to rise as Ukraine continues rebuilding housing, social facilities and transport and engineering infrastructure, while the sector already faces an acute shortage of staff, with available estimates suggesting only around half of the required number of skilled workers is currently available, the EEAS said.
Employers report that existing training programmes often do not reflect modern technologies, materials, equipment and work organisation, meaning graduates frequently need additional practical training once hired.
Germany is supporting Ukraine through partnerships between German and Ukrainian companies and initiatives focused on developing a skilled workforce, Jens Busma, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine, said.
As Ukraine moves towards European Union accession, aligning vocational education and training, qualifications and skills recognition with EU standards and practices will become more important, including systems for recognising qualifications and supporting labour mobility, Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of Section for Public Finance, Business Support, and Social Policies at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stated.
How the roadmap was put together
The roadmap was prepared under the Bridging Skills for Construction project, backed financially by the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Denmark as part of the Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery.
It was developed using research that included a survey of 200 construction companies and 20 in-depth interviews with businesses, building-material manufacturers, sectoral associations, trade unions, vocational education institutions and public authorities.
Proposed actions include updating training vouchers and creating a government–business co-financing mechanism for priority construction occupations, along with incentives for employers that invest in training and workplace mentoring.
Other proposals include setting up a Sectoral Skills Council to coordinate skills forecasting and training priorities, and developing a digital professional ID card for construction workers to record verified qualifications, safety certificates and work experience.
The roadmap also places emphasis on short, modular courses and training at enterprises, as well as recognising prior learning and practical experience, with the aim of helping groups including veterans, internally displaced people and women enter or return to construction jobs more quickly.
