IED: Enterprises complain about staff shortages for the least time in six months – what worries businesses
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In April 2025, the share of Ukrainian enterprises complaining of a shortage of workers fell to the lowest level in the last six months, according to the results of a monthly survey by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER).

Reference
The New Monthly Enterprises Survey from IER involves about 500 Ukrainian industrial enterprises located in 21 of the 27 regions of Ukraine. The survey has been conducted on a monthly basis since May 2022.

According to the survey, the shortage of personnel due to mobilization and people leaving abroad remains the main obstacle for business. In April, 57% of respondents cited this problem – eight percentage points less than the previous month. This is the lowest figure since October 2024.

At the same time, the share of companies that have difficulty finding both qualified (47.8%, which is 1.8 percentage points more than a month earlier) and unqualified workers (36.3%, which is 0.2 percentage points more than a month earlier) is increasing.

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The business activity recovery index did not change significantly in April – 0.13 versus 0.12 in March. The best dynamics of the IVDA were demonstrated by large enterprises – they have the highest recovery rates.

Entrepreneurs are cautious about the future. In the long term (two years), optimism has improved – the index of expected changes has increased from 0.11 to 0.15.

This indicator was influenced by a decrease in the share of those planning to reduce production (from 3.4% to 1.4%), and an increase in the share of those planning to expand (from 14% to 16.2%). At the same time, the majority – 82.4% of respondents – do not expect any changes.

In April, 26.2% of enterprises increased production volumes (in March – 20.1%). Export indicators reached their maximum since the beginning of the full-scale war: the share of exporters with increased sales increased, and the share of those recording a decline in exports decreased.

The average duration of new orders fell to 4.9 months, the lowest figure in recent months. The reduction is particularly noticeable compared to August-September 2024, when this figure reached almost eight months.

However, prices for raw materials and finished goods are growing more slowly. Only 24.5% of companies reported an increase in the price of materials (7 percentage points less than last month), and 26.7% reported an increase in the price of their own products.

In April, only 6% of enterprises were concerned about power outages. This is one of the lowest figures in the last two years. Back in 2022–2023, this problem was among the top three barriers to business.

Only 4% of businesses gave a positive assessment of the government's economic policy, although this is twice as many as in March. The majority (63%) maintain a neutral assessment, while 24% of respondents gave a negative assessment.