How can Ukrainians navigate the job market after spending several years abroad? Is it worth returning to a previous profession if demand for it has changed? Or could this be the right time to explore an entirely new field?
These were among the questions discussed as part of Work with Ukraine, an initiative in which KSE ProfTech participated. The project is implemented by the Happy Monday career platform in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil). Its aim is to help Ukrainians living abroad maintain professional ties with Ukraine and discover new career opportunities.
KSE ProfTech took part in a series of online events to introduce another potential career path: acquiring an in-demand technical profession and finding employment in Ukraine’s manufacturing sector.
During an expert discussion, Yuliia Ohilets, Head of Partnerships at KSE ProfTech, spoke about employers’ needs and opportunities for rapid retraining. KSE ProfTech graduate Arina Honcharenko also participated in a webinar featuring personal stories of Ukrainians who had returned from abroad, sharing her experience of changing careers after returning from the Czech Republic.
Ukraine’s Changing Labor Market: What Skills Are Employers Looking For?
According to the International Organization for Migration, approximately 1.5 million Ukrainians had returned from abroad by mid-2026. For some, returning home also means having to look for work again or reconsider their career plans.
At the same time, Ukraine’s labor market faces a paradox: businesses are experiencing severe labor shortages, while people with experience in other sectors cannot always find suitable job opportunities.
Yuliia Ohilets highlighted this challenge during the Work with Ukraine expert discussion.
Yuliia Ohilets, Head of Partnerships at KSE ProfTech:
There is currently a significant mismatch in the labor market between the professions in which people already have experience and the skills employers actually need today. KSE ProfTech focuses specifically on technical professions, making it possible for people from different professional backgrounds to enter a new field as quickly as possible.
During her presentation, she discussed retraining opportunities for people who had never previously worked in manufacturing. KSE ProfTech trainees include former teachers, marketers, dentists, and people from creative professions.
The training programs enable participants to acquire in-demand technical skills in just one to five weeks, preparing them for careers as CNC machine operators, welders, or electronics assembly technicians. All programs are free of charge and designed around employers’ needs.
Employment conditions were another important topic of discussion. Prospective KSE ProfTech trainees can learn about partner companies, working conditions, and career prospects before starting their training.
For those planning to return from abroad or relocate to Kyiv, housing support can also be an important consideration. Some employers offer dormitory accommodation, rental assistance, or other housing options.
Returning from the Czech Republic and Changing Careers: Arina Honcharenko’s Story
Participants in Work with Ukraine had the opportunity to learn what career retraining looks like in practice through the story of Arina Honcharenko, a KSE ProfTech graduate who joined a webinar dedicated to the experiences of Ukrainians returning from abroad.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Arina worked in interior design, attended college, and planned to pursue higher education abroad. In 2022, she moved to the Czech Republic with her mother, where she worked at a factory producing automotive radiators.
At the same time, she was preparing to apply to university. Gradually, however, she began reconsidering her plans and eventually decided to return to Ukraine.
Working at a Czech factory changed her perception of manufacturing careers. Arina discovered that modern manufacturing does not necessarily involve heavy physical labor. It also offers opportunities to work with advanced technologies, specialized equipment, and develop professional skills.
After returning to Kyiv, she decided to explore a new field and enrolled in the electronics assembly program at KSE ProfTech.
During the webinar, Arina drew attention to the stereotypes that continue to influence people’s career choices.
Arina Honcharenko, KSE ProfTech graduate:
We need to start seeing manufacturing jobs as a normal career option. It’s not a dead end or some kind of step down. It’s not something inferior, dirty, or necessarily reserved for men. Modern manufacturing is completely different.
Arina believes that changing professions should not be seen as a step backward, especially today, when technology is transforming the nature of work and practical skills are becoming increasingly valuable.
Her own experience demonstrates that transitioning into a new field can happen relatively quickly. After completing her training, Arina attended a job interview, completed a practical assessment, and secured a position at a Ukrainian manufacturing company.
Arina Honcharenko, KSE ProfTech graduate:
After finishing the course, I simply went to one of the partner employers, had an interview, and completed a practical test. I showed them how I had been taught to solder. They said, “Great!” I got the job and started working.
During the discussion, Arina also emphasized that employment opportunities vary significantly across industries. While competition for vacancies remains high in some sectors, manufacturing companies are actively looking for workers and are willing to help newcomers adapt to specific production processes.
Her story illustrates how returning to Ukraine can become an opportunity to rethink one’s career and pursue a profession that might never have been considered before.
From Expert Discussions to Connecting with Employers
Work with Ukraine brought together several formats designed to help Ukrainians living abroad better understand the opportunities available in Ukraine’s labor market.
As part of the webinar series Careers Without Borders: How to Find Career Opportunities in Ukrainian Companies, participants discussed current job openings, employer requirements, professional development prospects, and the experiences of people who had already returned to Ukraine.
The initiative also included Resume Drop, an online job fair, where candidates could connect with Ukrainian companies and explore employment opportunities.
Another important component was providing information and raising awareness. Happy Monday published an article titled “I Missed the Feeling of Being Alive”: Why and How Ukrainians Are Returning from Abroad, featuring the stories of two KSE ProfTech graduates, Arina Honcharenko and Iryna Tella.
In addition, Happy Monday introduced a dedicated job search filter, “Friendly to Ukrainians Abroad,” helping candidates identify companies open to hiring Ukrainians who are currently living outside the country.
New Career Opportunities Begin with Awareness
Participating in Work with Ukraine gave KSE ProfTech an opportunity to introduce Ukrainians living abroad to professions currently in demand and demonstrate practical pathways into modern manufacturing.
For many people, technical professions remain relatively unfamiliar. Perceptions of difficult working conditions, the need for years of training, or limited career prospects often discourage those who could build successful careers in manufacturing.
This is why combining expert insights into the labor market with personal stories of people who have already completed retraining is particularly important.
Today, more than 80% of KSE ProfTech graduates secure employment after completing their training, while over 90% of partner employers return to recruit additional candidates.
Career opportunities in Ukraine are not limited by a person’s previous work experience or educational background. Sometimes, the next step in a career begins with discovering a profession that someone had never considered before.
Learn more about free training programs and employment opportunities on the KSE ProfTech website.
