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Posted On

03
September
2021

Number of vacancies in agro-industrial complex exceeds number of applicants, sector threatened by personnel shortage

KYIV. Sept 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian agro-industrial complex is threatened by personnel shortage, since currently the average competition for one vacancy is less than one applicant, the reluctance of specialists to look for work in the industry is mainly caused by low salaries, executive director of the HR portal grc.ua Kateryna Okunska told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The agricultural sector is on the verge of staff shortage. For example, the vacancies of an agronomist cover the need for specialists in the category by 1.5 times. There is also a lack of agricultural technologists. In various areas, the average competition for one position is less than one person. For example, in the sphere of meat and poultry processing, vacancies of technologists cover the need by 1.7 times, and in the sphere of grain production – by two times," she said.

According to Okunska, this trend is strengthening every year, mainly due to low salary offers in agriculture, which do not attract young job seekers. She clarified that half of the candidates for the position of agronomists are men aged 45 years, while only 11% are specialists aged 18-30.

According to the HR portal, in order to attract and retain personnel, employers in the agricultural sector most often offer payment for mobile communications (90% of all vacancies), official employment (78%), training at the expense of the company (65%), and bonuses based on work results (62%). In addition, 44% of companies are ready to pay for housing or provide a hostel for nonresidents, 33% – to provide food at the expense of the company, and 23% – a company car. At the same time, only 15% of employers offer regular salary revisions and career opportunities.

"In the absence of a regular recalculation of wages, many agricultural workers are ready to change jobs. For example, sales representatives of agricultural companies agree to switch to a competitor subject to a 39% increase in pay, and regional managers will willingly consider an offer from a recruiter if the salary is 37% higher compared with the previous place of work," Okunska said.

According to the HR portal, as of July 2021, the average wage in the food industry in Ukraine is UAH 18,200, in agricultural production – UAH 24,100.