Summer Season in Ukrainian Resorts: Salaries and Job Opportunities in Odesa and the Carpathians
As the warm months arrive, Ukraine's resorts in Odesa and the Carpathian Mountains become especially popular destinations for tourists and seasonal job seekers. These regions traditionally attract a large influx of people looking to combine leisure with earning opportunities, which significantly influences the labor market and the demand for seasonal workers. An analysis based on data from OLX Job, as reported by Delo.ua, reveals distinctive features of the seasonal employment market in these areas, including the level of competition and wages. In Odesa, the most demanded professions among seasonal workers include drivers, waitstaff, cooks, and salespeople. According to recent reports, the median salary for drivers is around 42,500 hryvnias per month. Waitstaff earn approximately 37,500 hryvnias, cooks — 34,000, salespeople — 25,000, and construction workers — similar amounts. The 'Start of Career' category also shows high demand, with an average salary of about 19,000 hryvnias. The high number of responses to job offers indicates intense competition: on average, each vacancy receives 42 times more replies than the number of listings. Year over year, the situation has evolved with a nearly 80% increase in seasonal vacancies in Odesa over the past year, coupled with a 17% rise in median wages. This trend confirms the growing popularity of the resort season and the desire among young and temporary workers to earn income during the holiday period. In the Carpathians, the demand for seasonal employment is somewhat lower. On average, responses to vacancies outnumber offers in 12 to 1. The most popular positions include general workers, cooks, waiters, and housekeepers, with median wages of 35,000, 30,000, 18,000, and 10,000 hryvnias respectively. The 'Start of Career' category typically offers around 6,500 hryvnias. Commonly, these vacancies are filled by housekeepers, waiters, and entry-level service workers. Over the past year, the number of seasonal vacancies decreased by 25%, and average wages also dropped by 25%, reflecting a reduced interest and changing demand in the region. As the enrollment season approaches, young applicants are actively choosing their future professions, while employers seek seasonal staff. The article 'Labor Market 2025: Why Businesses Struggle to Find Employees and the Unemployed Are Still Jobless' explores these changing trends and predicts significant shifts in Ukraine's labor landscape in the near future.