You're reading: Azarov says Ukraine facing labor shortage

Ukraine is facing a shortage of workers, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

"We are experiencing a shortage of workers. There’s a misbalance in terms of education: higher, secondary, special and vocational – and the real needs of our economy," he said at a meeting with representatives of public organizations and experts in the field of employment in Kyiv on Friday.

Azarov noted that the current number of active able-bodied citizens in Ukraine was almost equal to the number of retirees, which makes it impossible to address social issues.

He also noted that Ukraine had lost two million jobs during the crisis.

Azarov said that there was currently a shortage of workers, particularly in construction, engineering and other industries.

However, he noted that Ukraine’s economy needs not just the labor force, but representatives of high-tech fields.