Women Driving Trucks and Buses: Results of the Reskilling Ukraine Program

Last year, 343 Ukrainian women successfully completed their training under the Reskilling Ukraine program, gaining qualifications as truck and passenger transport drivers. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Tetyana Berezhna. The program has become an important step towards gender equality in the transport industry, which was previously dominated by men.

According to the Ministry of Economy, 17% of graduates of the program have already found work in a new specialty, becoming truck and bus drivers. Another 17% are applying the skills they have gained in other areas - opening their own businesses or engaging in volunteer activities. This indicates a wide range of opportunities that this initiative opens up.

About a third of graduates (33%) are actively looking for work in the transportation sector. The demand for qualified female drivers is growing, and the Reskilling Ukraine program is helping women adapt to new challenges and master professions that were previously considered atypical for them.

According to Berezhnaya, more than 40 companies interested in hiring female drivers have already joined the initiative. Among them are large retailers, enterprises engaged in international and domestic bus transportation, agricultural companies, as well as enterprises in the extractive and food industries. Logistics and international transport companies operating in Ukraine are also opening up new opportunities for women in this profession.

This initiative demonstrates the importance of supporting women in acquiring new professions and increasing their competitiveness in the labor market. The Reskilling Ukraine program not only opens up career prospects for Ukrainian women, but also contributes to the country's economic development by attracting more qualified personnel to the transport sector.

It is expected that in the future the number of participants in such programs will increase, and employers will increasingly actively involve women in work in the transportation sector. This is another step towards breaking down gender stereotypes and creating equal opportunities in the Ukrainian labor market.