Retirement age rising in Ukraine as labor market increasingly relies on pensioners – lawmaker
In Ukraine, the retirement age is effectively rising due to stricter insurance record requirements and changes in the labor market. At the same time, the war has significantly reshaped employment patterns, leading to labor shortages and a growing number of working pensioners.
Mykhailo Tsymbaliuk, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans' Rights, said this in a comment to Ukrinform.
According to him, while the official retirement age has not been raised, in practice Ukrainians are being forced to work longer.
"If a person at the age of 60 does not have 33 years of insurance record, they must continue working until 63 or 65," Tsymbaliuk said.
He added that this trend aligns with international practice, where people often continue working after 60. However, in Ukraine it is largely a necessity due to low pension levels. According to estimates, up to 2 million Ukrainians receive the minimum pension of around UAH 2,600, effectively forcing them to seek additional income.
"This shows that it is about survival. Everyone who has retired tries to keep working," Tsymbaliuk said.
At the same time, parliament is not currently considering a formal increase in the retirement age. "The current convocation of the Verkhovna Rada is not capable of voting for an increase in the retirement age, because it is not a popular decision," the MP said.
He said the war is also having a major impact on the labor market. Part of the working-age population has been mobilized, while others have gone abroad or are temporarily unemployed. As a result, employers face staff shortages and are increasingly turning to older workers.
"Today, employment centers have more job openings than applicants. […] Employers are returning to pensioners who, given their health, are still willing to work," Tsymbaliuk said.
He cited data showing that the number of working pensioners has increased significantly and now stands at about 2.8 million people – much higher than before 2022.
Another challenge, he said, will be the post-war period. The labor market is expected to require even more workers, but expectations regarding working conditions and wages will also rise.
"Many people who are demobilized will not want to return to their previous professions. […] They will seek a different level of pay, as they will value their work more," the lawmaker said.
According to Tsymbaliuk, the state is already encouraging retraining for veterans, but their integration into the economy and alignment of wages with expectations will remain key challenges after the war ends.
Earlier, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Denys Uliutin said in an interview with Ukrinform that raising the retirement age in Ukraine is not currently under consideration.
Photo: Batkivshchyna Lvivshchyny / Facebook