The first requests to the State Employment Service of Ukraine within the framework of an experimental government project aimed at training women for professions traditionally dominated by men were submitted by four employers from the Poltava region. They have applied for the training of five women for the profession of agricultural machinery operator.
According to the data published by the Ministry of Economy on Tuesday, the farms involved are "Volodar-S", "Mukhin Agro", "Dibrova", and LLC "Kaplintsivske".
"The program aims to provide the labor market with qualified workers, particularly in areas experiencing a severe shortage of personnel: construction, industry, and transport. It also supports the competitiveness of women in the labor market. We are currently observing a trend where businesses are more actively offering new opportunities for women, and women are responding more actively to employers' proposals," quoted the Deputy Minister of Economy, Tatiana Berezhnaya, as stated by the ministry.
According to her, women are increasingly choosing professions where men are statistically more represented: drivers, machine operators, crane operators, loaders, and machinists.
The Ministry of Economy noted that the employment service has already selected candidates for training at the request of Poltava farmers, including women with higher education, a woman with a third-degree disability, and one woman with a complete secondary education who currently works as a warehouse worker and wishes to change professions.
The training will take place at the Interregional Center for Professional Retraining of Reservists in the city of Khorol, Poltava region.
The cost of training under the experimental program cannot exceed 10 subsistence minimums for able-bodied individuals (currently 30,280 UAH). If the training cost exceeds this amount, the difference may be covered by the employer or the project participant. The training duration may last up to 10 months.
It is emphasized that thanks to the government's decision, the training will be funded by the state from the Unemployment Social Insurance Fund, while employers will provide places for practical training and are required to employ the women after the training is completed. Overall, the program allows Ukrainian women to master 31 professions.
"When women acquire professions that have traditionally been male-dominated, it is not just about gender equality, but also about real opportunities for economic growth and strengthening our state. Today, under martial law, every job is a contribution to victory, and every employed Ukrainian woman supports her family, society, and the country as a whole. Our task is to create these opportunities and help realize the potential of every individual, regardless of gender or age," added the Director of the State Employment Service, Yulia Zhovtyak.