Ukraine’s reconstruction is usually discussed in terms of investment, infrastructure, and institutions. However, the key factor of reconstruction remains people.

This was pointed out by CSLR researcher and participant in the project “Caring to Survive, Surviving to Care” Nina Potarska in Gdańsk during a side event “Towards A Resilient Ukraine:  Conditions for a Progressive Recovery” organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung  within the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026.

Recent labour force projections suggest that Ukraine may need between 1.2 and 4.7 million additional workers by 2035, depending on the development scenario. At the same time, around 7 million Ukrainians remain abroad, while the working-age population in government-controlled territory has declined by approximately 20% since 2022, the researcher noted.

Therefore, she said, the question is not only how to rebuild the economy, but also what kind of country we are asking people to return to.

According to her, within the research project “Caring to Survive, Surviving to Care”, which studies everyday survival practices during the war, researchers consistently hear the same message from women, displaced people, and civil society activists:

People do not make decisions based only on wages. They make decisions based on whether life is possible. Can I find housing? Can my child attend school? Can I access healthcare? Will there be transport? Can I care for my elderly parents? Will I be safe if another crisis comes? — says the researcher.

In other words, employment decisions are closely linked to care and social infrastructure.

One woman who participated in the study said: “You can repair a building in a year. Rebuilding trust that life here can continue takes much longer.” Another participant described how she stayed in her community not because of economic opportunities, but because neighbours organized childcare, shared food, and helped elderly residents survive periods without electricity, Potarska reports, citing research findings.

 

These stories, she said, remind us that social cohesion is built through everyday practices of care. And these practices have carried Ukraine through the war.

This has important implications for labour policy. The discussion is often framed as if Ukrainians abroad will return simply because wages increase, the researcher notes.

According to her, higher wages are indeed necessary.

Research presented today shows that stronger labour institutions and wage growth can increase productivity and support economic development. A 10% increase in real minimum wages is associated with higher GDP, productivity, and employment without significant inflationary effects, she notes.

But wages alone are not enough, Potarska emphasizes. People return with children, partners, elderly relatives, and responsibilities.

This is why labour force projections correctly highlight the formula: Work – Housing – Social Infrastructure. She adds that she would go further: Work – Housing – Social Infrastructure – Care, because care is what makes all other elements usable.

Speaking about labour migration, the researcher noted that many Ukrainians who left are not waiting for the war to end before making decisions.

They are building new lives right now. Children enter schools abroad. People learn new languages. Women find employment. Families build new social networks. The longer displacement lasts, the harder return becomes. This means return policies must begin now, not after the war. And they must focus on quality of life, not only labour shortages, she stresses.

She also pointed to public procurement, which is often treated as a technical issue focused on cost efficiency.

However, procurement is one of the most powerful tools for shaping the future labour market. If reconstruction contracts reward only the lowest price, there is a risk of a race to the bottom. If procurement rewards fair wages, decent working conditions, apprenticeships, dual education, gender equality, and local employment, it becomes an investment in long-term social recovery, she emphasizes.

In her view, reconstruction spending should not only rebuild roads and buildings, but also social trust and decent work.

Potarska stressed that Ukrainians demonstrate extraordinary resilience in conditions of war. However, they face conditions that do not allow people to imagine a future.

People return when they believe they can build a life, not just find a job. Therefore, successful recovery requires more than economic growth. It requires strong labour institutions, decent wages, affordable housing, accessible public services, and recognition of care as essential infrastructure, she concludes.

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