Yulia Svyrydenko: Government launches national adult internship programme “Experience Matters”

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko discussed the labour market forecast and staffing challenges facing the Ukrainian economy with Ella Libanova, Director of the Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Life Quality Research at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

The economy’s need for specialists is already one of the biggest challenges for Ukraine. This is felt particularly acutely in the construction and defence industries, where demand for staff will only continue to grow.

“People are the foundation of our resilience and economic capacity. Every individual is needed for the economy in conditions of war and national recovery. We are working on incentives for employers and opportunities for people with experience to return to the labour market,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

To support the employment of older Ukrainians, the Government is launching the national adult internship programme “Experience Matters” for people aged 50+.

The programme consists of three key stages:

1. Training and preparation for a new stage in one’s career – updating CVs, adapting to current labour market requirements, and acquiring practical skills.

2. Meeting with an employer and discussing the format of cooperation.

3. Employment or short-term internship in a company with the possibility of permanent employment. During the internship, the candidate becomes familiar with the work processes, while the employer can assess their suitability for the role.

The initiative will be implemented jointly with the State Employment Centre, businesses, and civil society partners.

According to the study “The Labour Market After 50”, older people are not excluded from the labour market due to a lack of experience – on the contrary, employers value their reliability. At the same time, 65% of companies cite digital skills as a barrier, while 60% acknowledge the influence of age stereotypes during hiring.

Yulia Svyrydenko stated that this is precisely why the Government is developing a new employment policy in which human capital is the country’s main resource, with a focus not only on creating jobs but also on removing barriers to work.

“People of all ages should have the opportunity to realise their potential in Ukraine,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

Programme details and registration: https://www.dcz.gov.ua/profnavch/navchintern