Publication: Female Employment in Ukraine
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2025-10-13
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2025-10-16
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has severely disrupted the Ukrainian labor market. This note examines how it has affected female employment by reviewing labor market outcomes before and after 2022 for both women and men in Ukraine. It draws on existing evidence and incorporates data from household surveys collected by the World Bank and UNICEF during 2023/2024. The analysis reveals that gender gaps in labor market outcomes and occupational segregation were already considerable before 2022 and have persisted - and in some cases deepened - during 2023-2024. Key drivers of these disparities include entrenched gender norms, an unequal distribution of care responsibilities, and regulatory shortfalls, all of which have become more restrictive since 2022. In addition, disruptions to human capital accumulation and structural inefficiencies in the labor market further compound these challenges. While the Ukrainian government has introduced several measures to support women’s labor market participation, more targeted and sustained interventions will be essential to address ongoing barriers and ensure that a recovery and reconstruction phase is inclusive and gender responsive.
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“World Bank. 2025. Female Employment in Ukraine. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43857 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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