What's the problem?
"They'll come in huge numbers"
"Right now, we don't see that many veterans coming to us for job searches," says an employment center worker in the Volyn region, who participated in a sociological survey of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). "But soon, they'll come in huge numbers, and we'll have to figure out what to do! We'll need to guide, support, and help them find their place. Many still feel lost and vulnerable today, but they'll be ready to take action tomorrow. Do you understand?"
Currently, the number of veterans seeking job placement assistance at employment centers is relatively tiny compared to the number of unemployed Ukrainians. However, the trend is clear — compared to last year, these requests have tripled.
Ukraine needs a comprehensive approach to reintegrate veterans into civilian life successfully. This includes creating official job placement programs, supporting those who want to start their businesses, offering retraining opportunities, and providing psychological and medical support. Government agencies, educational institutions, civil society organizations, and companies must work together to make this happen. Simply treating veterans like any other job seeker won't be enough.
A KIIS survey completed in the Inclusive Economy project shows that most veterans visiting employment centers aren't just looking for jobs. Instead, they are more interested in grants for starting their businesses, training programs, and help with writing business plans. Many veterans aren't in a hurry to find a job — they're still figuring out their next steps, giving themselves time to recover from military service and decide on their future careers.
Veteran Oksana Kokoshkina shares her personal experience, saying that finding a job is tough — not just for veterans, but for many people.
"The job market [in Ukraine] still operates with outdated mindsets and hiring practices, even though employers desperately need workers. Age discrimination, sexism, expectations of tolerating things related to Russia, and exploitation of workers who are paid below market rates are still common. This problem is made worse by the constant influx of displaced people willing to work for almost nothing to afford rent and food," says Oksana Kokoshkina.
She continues, "The government and civil society don't have strong enough tools to hold employers accountable. I've personally been rejected for jobs because of my age — 'too old' — and because I'm a woman. On top of that, some people in civilian life have developed what I call 'veteran-phobia' — a fear or bias against hiring veterans. Employers and their staff are no exception to this."
The Ukrainian veteran believes overcoming these issues is the first step toward making job searches fair and accessible for everyone in the country.
What's the solution?
What do veterans need? Survey results
The "Career Guidance and Counseling" course participants are veterans exploring new opportunities, looking to change careers, or improve their skills. Photo: Andrii Chumak/Inclusive Economy
How can employment centers help veterans? Employment centers register unemployed status and provide financial aid, offer career counseling and job placement support, create personalized employment plans, arrange workplace internships, assist with skill development and higher education, provide grants, and hold training sessions and information seminars.
The list of services is extensive, but there's always room for improvement. Surveyed veterans highlighted several areas that need attention:
- Expanding the list of available training programs
- Increasing online learning opportunities
- Partnering with more universities and colleges
- Offering more psychological support programs
- Providing more remote work options
- Simplifying bureaucratic procedures for veterans
The "Career Guidance and Counseling" course under the Inclusive Economy project is just one of many initiatives helping veterans build successful careers. Photo: Andrii Chumak/Inclusive Economy
Sometimes, the most basic things are overlooked. Employment center staff mention simple changes that would make a big difference, like always having printed materials available for veterans to take home (since government offices often lack resources), or providing chairs with armrests for disabled veterans who need extra support when sitting down.
Ideally, employment center staff should act as career advisors for veterans, taking the time to understand each individual's case, background, skills, needs, and psychological state to find the right job or training opportunity.
"We need psychological support, too. It would help if we had examples of successful veteran employment cases or training sessions from psychologists on how to prepare ourselves to assist others," says a respondent from Odesa.
The number of career advisors in employment centers is growing. Some are being retrained through international projects like Inclusive Economy, others through government programs, and some in collaboration with nonprofit organizations. These efforts are crucial. More and more veterans are returning to civilian life and need tailored career support.
Building a bridge back to civilian life: What's the community perspective?
Most career consultations at Lobby X happen online, but some veterans receive in-person support. Photo: Lobby X
Not only does the government help veterans find jobs — several nonprofit and socially responsible business initiatives focus on this issue. Organizations like Veteran Hub, Veteran Help, and Lobby X offer career counseling for veterans.
Lobby X, a recruitment agency, started working with the Ukrainian military in 2022.
"Even back then, we knew the time would come when the people we helped join the military would eventually return to civilian life. We wanted to be there for them during this transition — to help them move into the next stage of their lives. That's how our veteran-focused work began," says Olha Bandrivska, head of the military department at Lobby X.
In the summer of 2024, Lobby X launched career counseling for veterans. Since then, they've provided over 500 consultations, and demand keeps growing. However, with only two consultants, they struggle to keep up.
Consultations are held online. To sign up, veterans fill out a short form on the website with their contact details and a brief description of what they need help with.
"Some people just need help with resumes or preparing for a job interview. Others are completely lost and don't know what to do next. Every case is different. But one of the most important things we offer is encouragement. We help them see the value of their skills and experience," says Olha Bandrivska.
The Lobby X team began career counseling for war veterans in the summer of 2024. Since then, they have provided over 500 consultations, and they note that the demand is growing. Photo: Lobby X
Lobby X consultants provide insights into the job market, growing industries, skill shortages, and available training programs. They can't guarantee employment, but they equip veterans with the tools they need to succeed.
"We can boost their confidence, conduct mock interviews, guide them through the job search, and recommend suitable job openings," Olha explains.
Lobby X collaborates with employment centers to spread the word about their services. They also partner with Veteran Hub's Practice project and local veteran organizations to host "Career Days for Veterans." These events have already taken place in Kyiv and other cities.
"We know our consultations change lives. Our work goes beyond job placement. We help veterans see that they are valuable, that their skills matter, and that their military experience is an asset. They shouldn't hide their service when applying for jobs, even though that's common practice. Veterans are strong, inspiring, and full of potential. There are employers out there who will recognize and appreciate that," says Olha Bandrivska.
Does it really work?
A veteran's story of career change after a job consultation
Oksana Kokoshkina, a veteran, served in Ukraine's 5th Assault Brigade from the start of the full-scale invasion. She fought in the defense of Kyiv and on the Bakhmut front and received commendations from her commanders. However, after sustaining an injury, she was discharged from the Armed Forces for medical reasons. In late spring 2024, she received her official discharge order and was removed from the military registry. Her civilian life was about to begin. But she needed to care for her health before looking for a job.
"I decided to take a few months to recover after two years of service to heal mentally and get treatment for my heart issues (which were the reason for my medical discharge)," says Oksana. "By the end of August, I had a nervous breakdown because I couldn't get the surgery I needed. The doctors I had arranged everything with kept delaying it for months, suddenly raising the price. I couldn't afford it. Asking for public donations felt wrong — how could I put my personal needs above the suffering of displaced people, wounded soldiers, and the army's urgent needs? That thought pushed me into deep depression."
Once she started feeling better, Oksana began searching for a job. She knew exactly what she wanted: a remote or hybrid position in sales management.
"Going back to legal work, which I did for 20 years, was out of the question. Even before the full-scale war, I was completely burned out, and the endless, mindless military bureaucracy during my last months of service only made it worse," says Oksana. "Working in an office wasn't an option either — if I had to commute, I'd need to rent an apartment just for work. That would trap me in a cycle of constantly chasing money to cover my basic needs, with no real progress. Besides, my values and priorities changed. I became less flexible, less diplomatic, and more prone to frustration, which made it hard to interact with civilian colleagues for long periods."
To help with her job search, Oksana signed up for a career consultation with Lobby X, an organization she learned about through the board of an LGBT military nonprofit she is a member of.
"I applied for a consultation, and within a week, I was already job-hunting with Yustyna's support. She helped me with my CV, identified my soft and hard skills, and helped me regain self-confidence as a civilian professional and set priorities in my job search. Two months later, I received an offer from a defense equipment manufacturer to work on a subsidiary project. Not long after, I was promoted to the main division as a sales manager," Oksana shares.
Even more helpful solutions!
Learning from experience, leading by example
Helping veterans find jobs has been a challenge for every country that has faced prolonged wars. The experiences of the US, the UK, and Canada could serve as a model for Ukraine, but the scale of Ukraine's challenge is unprecedented. In percentage terms, the number of veterans returning to civilian life and needing employment will be higher than in any other country in recent decades.
International experience shows that successful veteran employment programs require cooperation between the government and private organizations, strong psychological support, attention to gender-specific needs, and opportunities for retraining and education.
A good example is the US Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) program, which helps veterans and their families find jobs and receive professional training. Its mission is to integrate veterans into the civilian workforce, support employers hiring them, and protect their employment rights.
The UK's Career Transition Partnership (CTP) follows a similar approach. It helps veterans find new careers by offering specialized training programs that translate military skills into civilian job qualifications.
Canada's Hire a Veteran program educates employers about the benefits of hiring veterans and provides veterans with tools to improve their resumes and interview skills.
However, while learning from other countries is valuable, Ukraine must find its path. The scale of the war is enormous, it is still ongoing, and the economy faces considerable challenges. But one day, just as Ukraine's combat experience and modern military tactics are now studied worldwide, its approach to veteran employment may become a model for others to follow.
Author: Svitlana Chernetska
