Youth and the labour market: Odesa seeks answers

The event was organized by the NGO “Progressive&Strong” in partnership with the Cegos Group (France) and Stichting Glocalshift Foundation (Netherlands), the Odesa Region Employers’ Association, the Southern Qualification Center, and the Odesa Regional Employment Center. The event served as the culmination of a professional retraining project for young people of Southern Ukraine, implemented with the support of Cegos and Glocalshift. As part of the project, 75 young people completed professional retraining, acquiring new knowledge, practical skills, and competencies that are already in demand on the labour market. This represented the second phase of the retraining programme implemented by NGO “Progressive&Strong” (the first phase took place in 2024-2025). This phase placed primary emphasis on preparing young people from Odesa Region for vocational occupations, as well as on developing competencies in the creation of barrier-free and inclusive environments. Such an approach is exceptionally relevant in the context of Ukraine’s reconstruction. Demand for skilled tradespeople is rising rapidly, as they play a pivotal role in rebuilding infrastructure, developing communities, and strengthening the economy. Simultaneously, training specialists who implement principles of accessibility contributes to the creation of spaces that are open to all – including war veterans, persons with disabilities, and other groups with limited mobility. It is precisely this combination of vocational training and inclusivity that enables the formation of a modern labour market and ensures that the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities and communities proceeds in accordance with European standards of accessibility, equal opportunity, and social cohesion.

The first part of the event was devoted to the presentation of results from the professional retraining project for young people of Odesa Region. Participants were introduced to the programme’s achievements, its impact on the development of professional competencies among young people, and took part in an open discussion on the contemporary challenges of youth employment in Southern Ukraine. During the panel discussion, representatives of government, employers, the educational community, and the civil sector jointly sought solutions aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of young people, developing vocational education, and creating new opportunities for a successful career start. The second part of the event adopted a practical format, oriented directly towards the young people who had completed training within the project. In the format of a “Living Library”, participants worked on developing soft skills – today among the most important competencies for successful employment. Young people refined their skills in communication, teamwork, self-presentation, effective interaction, conflict management, and professional adaptation – competencies that increasingly determine the success of a young professional on the contemporary labour market.

The event was moderated by Bohdan FERENS, Founder of NGO “Progressive&Strong”, and Liudmyla KORNUTA, HR Coordinator of the organisation and Project Coordinator for the professional retraining of young people of Southern Ukraine.

Bohdan FERENS articulated the project’s overarching strategic objective: “We aspire for young people to remain in Ukraine. The successful cases realised in Odesa Region must be scaled to other communities – so that vocational education institutions and local self-government bodies may take a ready-made model and implement it in their own contexts”.

The founder of NGO “Progressive&Strong” also drew particular attention to the issue of genuine, rather than declarative, inclusion: “Mental transformation is more important than physical change. If we change from within, all our spaces will become truly inclusive. Sometimes a few metres of properly laid tactile paving matter more than a dozen draft laws that never become legislation”.

Olena MAZUR, Head of the Department of Social and Labour Relations and Employment of the Population within the Directorate of Regional Development of the Department of Economics of the Odesa Regional State Administration, delivered a welcoming address. She spoke about what many sense but rarely articulate so clearly: “The world is changing faster than we can prepare for it. Artificial intelligence is already here, and it is dictating new rules. Some professions are disappearing – and that is a fact not to be concealed. Yet alongside them, new niches and new opportunities are emerging. The question is who will be the first to claim them”.

In Olena MAZUR’s view, the answer is self-evident. It is precisely young people who are the most flexible, the most open to change, and the most ready to learn. The task of the state and its partners is not to stand aside, but to create conditions enabling this energy to find proper application. Projects such as this one represent a concrete response to that challenge.

Yannick du Pont, Founder and CEO of GlocalShift, the international partner of the project, greeted the participants online and underscored the project’s significance for the region. He had personally visited Odesa following the start of the full-scale invasion, and spoke with candour: “Despite four years of brutal aggression, the work continues. The team of NGO “Progressive&Strong” keeps hope alive. This is truly worthy of admiration. You are our inspiration, and we continue to fight alongside you”.

Yannick du Pont also announced the transition of the project to its third phase and the possible scaling of the programme to other regions of Ukraine.

The project results were presented by Liudmyla KORNUTA and Kostiantyn PALSHKOV.

Liudmyla KORNUTA, Coordinator of the HR Direction, set out the key emphasis: the project’s focus is specifically on young people – not because they are overlooked, but because they are discussed far less than they deserve: “Every day we enter lecture halls and see young people who are changing. They are living through difficult times. Young people are only just beginning to find their own path. And at this moment, it is critically important for them to have support nearby”.

In the second phase of the project, participants mastered three key directions encompassing seven educational tracks: inclusion (installation of an accessible restroom, manual arc welding technology for ramps, installation of tactile paving), service sector (confectionery and baking, waiter-barista), and the security of port facilities and companies.

Liudmyla KORNUTA articulated a simple yet effective formula for the project’s success: Teach – Support – Employ.

She also noted: “We were surprised to find that even the tactile paving was being laid by girls. When we spoke with them, they said: ‘This is interesting to us.’ Supporting a person from ‘I want to, but I’m not sure’ to ‘Thank you – I would never have dared’ – that is where the core value lies”.

One of the participants shared her own reflection: “We were all sticky and dirty, but we kept working – for people, for society, so that others could be comfortable. It was then that we understood this is a real endeavour”.

Kostiantyn PALSHKOV, co-coordinator of the project, offered an observation that struck everyone present: “I am increasingly accepting the new reality. Today, we see more women than before in the skilled trades”.

After completing the courses, young people began to look at the city differently – noticing where ramps are absent, where tactile paving has been incorrectly laid. This is already the mark of a professional eye and, perhaps, one of the most important outcomes of the project – one that does not easily fit into any formal report.

Among the participants were also former military personnel who had returned from the front. For them, retraining represented an opportunity to feel needed once more and to continue moving forward together with society, rather than apart from it.

Beyond vocational skills, young people were taught soft skills: how to craft a CV that gets noticed; how to work in a team with people of different ages and worldviews; how to advocate for their interests and manage conflict. Entering the labour market with a practical skill is important. But knowing how to stay and grow – that is another achievement altogether.

The public panel brought together individuals with very different professional experiences.

Artem BONDAREV is a war veteran who lost his sight following an injury in 2022 and currently works in the human resources department of the enterprise where he was employed prior to the war. He spoke about inclusion without euphemism: “For three and a half years I have been hearing about ramps and tactile paving. But I almost never encounter them in the city. We want to be active participants in life. We do not need formal assistance. We need infrastructure that genuinely works”.

Ihor DUBCHAK, representative of the Odesa Region Employers’ Association, opened with the kind of candour rarely heard at official events: “Business is in real pain over the labour shortage. There is already a joke circulating that vocational guidance will soon have to be delivered in kindergartens – because secondary school is already too late”. He emphasised that the shortage of skilled labour in the trades has reached a critical level, and added: “Businesses are experiencing a severe shortage of hands-on labor. Skilled trade occupations are well-paid right now – welders, mechanics, security specialists. Young people simply do not know the real figures. Develop your skills, engage with professional communities – and you will be able to provide for yourself and your family”.

Liliia OSTAPIUK, Head of the Human Resources Department at Everlast, a mechanical engineering company, confirmed that a qualified novice welder with strong motivation can, within a year, earn on a par with an experienced specialist. Everlast currently employs five staff members under the age of 23. The company is developing a mentorship programme, adapting schedules for veterans, and gradually transforming its workplace culture. She observed: “Production needs people, and it needs young people. There is real scope for professional fulfilment here – and real scope for earnings”.

On the subject of artificial intelligence, she did not deny its potential but drew a clear boundary: “Artificial intelligence cannot weld a storage tank. This is a highly complex process. It demands hands, knowledge, and experience – and no machine will replace that”.

Svitlana TABAKOVA, Deputy Head of the Regional Employment Center and Head of the Department of Vocational Training Organisation, emphasised the necessity of investing in young people and highlighted the concrete opportunities that already exist: “Over five months, we have covered 13,000 young people from Odesa Region through vocational guidance events. Young people in Odesa Region are the most active in Ukraine by this indicator”. She also outlined the possibility of receiving 80,000 hryvnias upon registering as an individual entrepreneur, as well as employer support programmes for those who hire young people into their first position. She added: “The Employment Center is not only for those who have lost their jobs. It is for those who want to become competitive. Young people must know about specific opportunities, and those who create these opportunities must speak about them openly and clearly. The labour market must be open to everyone – regardless of experience, starting position, or circumstances”.

Serhii SUSHCHENKO, Director of the Odesa Center for Vocational and Technical Education, spoke as someone who knows the labour market not from presentations but from daily practice. Vocational institutions remain on the front line of workforce preparation even under wartime conditions. He noted: “People come to us, investments are being made, we have modern equipment. And practically 100% of our graduates find employment. We are not afraid of artificial intelligence. A year ago I would not have said that – but today I say it with confidence”. He also raised the particular issue of preparing to work with veterans and those affected by the war: “Thanks to this project, I have heard thoughts that are very difficult to hear directly from people who are closely connected with the consequences of war. This is of extraordinary importance to us – because we are preparing to train and retrain veterans. And that work is already under way”.

Angelina DOKUS, Chairperson of the Youth Council under the Odesa Regional State Administration, added an important dimension. The Youth Council is not a body that makes decisions on behalf of the government – it provides consultation on which decisions should be incorporated into programmes and strategies, so that the voice of young people from 91 communities and seven districts of Odesa Region is genuinely heard. She stated: “There is a regional programme ‘Youth of Odesa Region’ into which funds are allocated for the implementation of various initiatives. We are striving for the creation of a regional youth strategy – a roadmap for all stakeholders: employers, young people, business, the civil sector, and government – so that we all understand together where we are heading”. She also noted the uneven distribution of opportunities: young people in Odesa already attend powerful events and aspire to more, while in the region’s communities, young people sometimes lack access even to a basic CV-writing workshop. One of the Council’s goals is to reduce this disparity – in particular through the creation of a regional youth centre: a space where one may turn with any question, from education to psychological support.

Following the public discussion, the event shifted into a different rhythm.

The “Living Library” is a format in which, instead of books, people are read. Each participant could approach a “living book” – a person with real experience – and speak one-on-one or in a small group. Without microphones, without podiums, without distance. It is precisely these conversations that tend to stay with a person for a long time.

Yuliia SHMALENKO, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology at the National University “Odesa Law Academy” and a certified mediator, spoke with young people about conflict management – and immediately drew a bridge to practice: “Conflict at work is not a catastrophe and not a sign that you ‘don’t fit in.’ It is a normal part of any team. The question is not whether conflict will arise, but how you will handle it. That is precisely what distinguishes someone who stays and grows from someone who leaves after the first friction”. Young people on the threshold of the labour market listened with particular attentiveness. Yuliia SHMALENKO explained how to recognise a destructive conflict in time, how to raise a problem without accusations, and how to find solutions that do not damage relationships within a team. These were not abstract theories – they were tools for the first day at work.

Anna LISOVENKO, psychologist and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology at the National University «Odesa Law Academy», spoke about psychological support for young people, about the fact that experiencing anxiety and uncertainty before a first job is entirely natural, and about how not to allow that feeling to become paralysing. She observed: “The fact that you are nervous before your first interview or first day at work is not a weakness. It is a signal that this matters to you. What is important is to learn to hear that signal – not to flee from it, but to use it”. She shared simple self-support practices for stressful situations, discussed how to establish boundaries in a new team, and addressed when it is advisable to seek professional psychological assistance. In today’s realities, where many young people have experienced displacement, the loss of loved ones, or prolonged study under conditions of air raid alerts, this knowledge holds not theoretical but immediate practical value.

An entirely different atmosphere was created by Volodymyr PERKIN – a restaurateur and lecturer at the International Humanitarian University, who came to the event not only as an invited speaker but also as an instructor: it was he who had taught participants the “waiter-barista” course. His presence at the event proved a surprise to many. He noted: “I came to teach because there is a shortage of staff. But I quickly understood: the issue is not only a shortage of hands. The issue is that young people simply do not know that behind this work lies a real business, real money, and significant opportunities for advancement”. He spoke about how the restaurant business works from the inside: the role of the server in shaping a guest’s impression of an establishment, how pay is structured when tips are included, and how quickly one can advance from trainee to manager. Young people asked questions eagerly – above all about real figures and whether people are taken on without prior experience.

Another “Living Book” was Oksana TURCHYNA – HR entrepreneur, founder of the “Career Center”, author and instructor of courses in recruitment and HR. Over fifteen years of practice, she has travelled the path from HR consultant to someone who herself teaches others how to find work, how to promote oneself on social media, and how to build a career even under the new conditions of the labour market. The conversation with her returned to where everything begins for many: the CV. It might seem a single sheet of paper – yet it is precisely that which opens or closes doors.

“A CV is not a list of what you can do. It is the first conversation with an employer – one that has not yet taken place. It must say: I know what I want, and I know what I can offer your company”.

Oksana TURCHYNA presented real examples – successful and otherwise – explaining how to formulate achievements correctly even without work experience, how to highlight what was gained during the courses, and how to format a CV so that it is not lost among dozens of others. For young people who had just completed their retraining, this was a practical bridge between learning and the first call from an employer.

By the close of the day, there remained in the hall a feeling difficult to describe in formal terms – not “the event was successfully held” and not “the plan was fulfilled.” Something else: alive and faintly unsettling, the way it feels after a conversation that compels one to think.

Young people who a month ago had held a welding electrode or laid tactile paving for the first time sat today alongside vocational college directors, business representatives, and international partners – and spoke as equals among equals.

That is the result which is hardest to measure and easiest to feel.

The labour market of Odesa Region is genuinely changing.
There is a shortage of hands, a shortage of personnel, a shortage of people who are willing and able to work. But this event demonstrated: there are those who are already ready.
There are young people who have retrained, found the courage, and want to remain here – not because there is no alternative, but because there is purpose.
There are employers ready to teach and to pay fairly.
There are vocational colleges that, even after being struck, continue to stand – and inside them, people continue to work.
There are organisations and institutions creating space for young people not in words, but through concrete action.
All of this exists. What is needed is for these parts to connect. That is precisely why such events are held – and precisely why they must continue.