According to estimates from the Ministry of Economy, at the beginning of 2023, the number of unemployed individuals stood at 2.6 million, while the National Bank of Ukraine estimated around 4.2–4.8 million. Data from the Ministry of Social Policy indicate that the war has generally led to an increased role for women in the labor market. There has been a growth in the proportion of women among job seekers and entrepreneurs. Notably, in the first quarter of 2024, women represented 58.8% of registered individual entrepreneurs, a 7.8 percentage point increase compared to the same period in 2021.

During the war, Anna made the decision to take a course for tractor operators. Her husband could be mobilized into the army at any moment, and their family farm needed care. Anna chose this highly in-demand profession in their region to ensure she could financially support her family. Her decision surprised many people, including her husband.

The stereotype that women can’t be tractor operators followed Anna throughout her training. "I need to be able to do everything that can help my family. I’ll be able to assist my husband with everything. I’m already driving the tractor, I know how to service it, and I’m doing well," Anna shares.

Ivanna, another woman who became a tractor operator, shared her experience: "It’s great when a woman can do everything at home. She can solve any problem. Right now, we’re in the midst of war, and there are fewer and fewer men in our village. I plan to work in this field, not just use my skills at home. In our region, many businesses are looking for specialists with these skills, and the demand for female tractor operators is very high. Many internally displaced persons live here, but most of them are women. There are too few men to rely solely on them in such situations. In these circumstances, we become each other’s support, stepping into roles that were once considered unconventional for women."

This isn’t Ivanna’s first time pursuing a non-traditional profession. She previously was trained as a builder, then as a welder, and now as a tractor operator. "People used to think women couldn’t handle it. But if you have the will, you’ll succeed. I never considered myself less capable or intelligent. When I demonstrated my skills, people took my professional opinion seriously," Ivanna recalls.

"I’ve always been drawn to ‘non-typical’ professions for women. I don’t know why, but it just feels right. I mastered one ‘traditionally female’ profession once, but that was at my mother’s request, and I never worked a single day in it," Ivanna shares.

“In the Poltava region, there’s a severe shortage of labor force: more men are being mobilized into the army, and women are stepping into their roles in various industries. Agricultural companies, in particular, are feeling the lack of "male" hands, but women have become reliable replacements. Many locals have left for abroad, while a significant number of displaced persons from Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regions are now searching for work. The demand for skilled personnel is rising, especially for tractor operators, which are highly sought-after in our region," explains Liubov Mykolaivna, a representative from the employment center branch in Hadyach, Poltava region.

The activities of Women's Employment Centers are implemented by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine, with the financial support of the Government of Denmark, in partnership with the NGO "Innovative Social Solutions."