Increase in the Number of Foreign Workers in Ukraine in 2026

In 2026, Ukraine recorded an increase in the number of foreign workers in the manufacturing industry and healthcare. The Verkhovna Rada is initiating a territorial analysis of the labor market to protect the rights of Ukrainian workers and control labor migration. According to the committee on social policy of the Verkhovna Rada, excluding defense forces and employers with fewer than ten employees, approximately 4.9 million people are employed in the production sector. In 2020, 9,880 foreigners were employed in Ukraine's economy, and this figure dropped to 4,720 in 2025. However, in 2026, there is a trend towards an increase in the number of foreign workers. Four regions have reported an increase in foreign workers, including in the manufacturing industry and administrative services. In the healthcare and social assistance sector, the number of foreigners increased by 10%. The chair of the committee, Halyna Tretyakova, emphasized that Ukrainian citizens should have the primary right to jobs. Three bills on the employment of foreigners have been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. 45% of companies do not consider hiring foreign workers, 41% theoretically allow it, 12% are actively considering it, and only 2% have experience in attracting foreign specialists.