Halyna Zhukovska: Active women require support from the state and employers for economic participation and caregiving roles

Currently, 49% of women aged 50-70 are employed, with 22% working in informal sectors. Women occupy 29% of leadership roles in business, and 2.7 million are compelled to live abroad under foreign jurisdictions. Notably, 60% of internally displaced individuals are women, and 47% of new businesses launched during the conflict are owned by women. These data, which highlight women’s active roles among other factors, underscore the need for state and employer support to sustain both their economic involvement and caregiving responsibilities.

Halyna Zhukovska, Senior Referent for the Government Commissioner on Gender Policy, emphasized this point during a recent discussion at Media Center Ukraine.

“These figures reflect the significant contributions of women,” Zhukovska pointed out. “It is imperative that the state and employers provide the necessary support to facilitate both their economic participation and caregiving responsibilities. The war has devastated many care facilities or relocated them, exacerbating the problem.”

Halyna Zhukovska has underscored the need for a multifaceted strategy to address the current labor shortage and dismantle traditional gender stereotypes surrounding professions. 

“How are we currently tackling the labor shortage? We’ve traveled across the country, engaging with military administration leaders. In Zhytomyr, for example, vocational schools have been repurposed to train women to drive heavy trucks and lorries. In Kyiv, women are being trained as trolleybus drivers and electricians. A comprehensive approach is essential; it’s the only way to break down stereotypes about gender-specific roles, improve workplace conditions, and collaborate effectively with employers,” Zhukovska stated.

She also highlighted the persistent issue of the gender pay gap. “When women enter traditionally male-dominated fields, their compensation should match that of their male counterparts,” Zhukovska added.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news