In February 2022, Ukraine faced not only a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. This, in turn, led to a mass migration of Ukrainians to other regions, as well as abroad. Some Ukrainians have already returned to their native settlements. We decided to look at what unemployment and employment were like in Khmelnytskyi and in the regional centers in 2022 and the first half of 2023.

The Khmelnytskyi Regional Employment Center noted that in addition to the typical work of providing employment services to unemployed residents of the Khmelnytskyi Region, they are actively involved in the implementation of the government project “eRobota” (“eWork”). In 2022, within the framework of this project, the “Own business” program was launched, which provides an opportunity to receive micro-grants for the creation or development of one’s own business. Since July 2022, 118 people in the region have received micro-grants, of which 52 are women, 8 are internally displaced persons. Since the beginning of 2023, positive decisions have been made regarding the provision of micro-grants to 53 persons, including 23 women and 3 internally displaced persons.

The Khmelnytskyi branch of the regional employment center was created at the end of last year after the reform of the structure. Currently, it covers with its services the residents of the Khmelnytskyi territorial community and the Khmelnytskyi district.

Also, in addition to providing services and holding educational events, the Center and its branch carried out informational and explanatory work with the unemployed and employers during 2022 and the first half of 2023. Information was spread about conducting online consultations of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Employment Center.

From August 2022 to June 2023, 91 people received micro-grants for business creation or development, which created 130 new jobs in the territory of the city of Khmelnytskyi, Khmelnytskyi territorial community and Khmelnytskyi district.

These are quite good indicators, because the state, which is in the conditions of a full-scale war, finds opportunities in its budget to support citizens who, in such a difficult time, nevertheless decided to open their own businesses.