Chapter 5. Social Expectations of Ukrainians Regarding the Functioning of the Labour Market

Abstract: The section "Social expectations of Ukrainians regarding the functioning of the labor market in Ukraine during the war and post-war recovery" addresses the impact of military aggression on Ukraine's labor market. It outlines the short- and long-term social consequences of this impact across several dimensions: structural changes in the composition of the labor force; employment and unemployment dynamics; shortages of qualified personnel and shifts in occupational demand; opportunities for remote work in the context of digitalization; the specificities of wartime labor migration; changes in income differentiation; and gender policy.

The key challenges identified include restoring labor market balance and addressing personnel shortages; facilitating the return of Ukrainian specialists from abroad; expanding training and retraining programs; advancing the digitalization of production processes; supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans; promoting women's access to traditionally male-dominated occupations; and cultivating organizational adaptability and emotional resilience as competitive advantages.

The transition from social expectations to actual interaction practices is a complex process. It encompasses not only Ukrainians' adaptation to life under extreme circumstances, but also their capacity to transform existing and develop new forms of social interaction — effectively mobilizing available resources to sustain viability in conditions of existential crisis brought on by Russian military aggression.