Subtitles in English are available for your convenience.
Video Podrobnosti.
The labor market in Ukraine has undergone serious changes during the war. One of the most significant phenomena is how women are gradually taking positions that were previously considered exclusively male. From truck drivers to construction workers — now women are ready to master even complex professions such as excavator and loader operators. They are learning, adapting, and becoming important parts of the country's recovery.
New Vision of Workplaces
Currently, in the conditions of war, there is no clear boundary between "women's" and "men's" work. Women take on the same responsibilities as men, even though they may not always have the same physical strength. However, this does not prevent them from working on equal terms with men, gaining new professions and skills.
As noted by Yulia Skichko, the head of the School of Construction Equipment Operators:
"I am a woman, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about sitting behind the wheel not only of a passenger car, but also an excavator."
The war has posed new challenges for Ukraine, one of which is the reduction in the number of men in construction and other important sectors. Therefore, starting in 2022, women began actively mastering professions that were previously male-dominated.
Education and Support
At the Alef Stroy School of Construction Equipment Operators, special conditions have been created for women: from dormitory accommodation to free meals and lodging. In addition to theoretical classes, the girls actively practice at construction sites, where they are given the opportunity to operate machinery and work in conditions close to real-life situations.
As one of the project participants, Tetiana Mykhalchuk, shares, she decided to change her profession and started learning to work on a loader.
"I asked my husband, and he said, 'You can do it!' And indeed, I submitted an application and soon started my training," shares Tetiana.
Practical Training: How Women Master Heavy Equipment
At the School of Construction Equipment Operators, women learn not only theory but also practice at the training grounds. Instructors explain every mechanism and element of the equipment so that women can not only sit behind the wheel but also understand how each system works. The training program includes theoretical classes in engineering and mechanics, as well as practical sessions on various types of equipment.
The learning conditions are specially designed so that participants can focus on acquiring new knowledge and skills without distractions. They live in comfortable conditions, with everything necessary for rest and study. In addition, they are provided with all the opportunities for socialization and support: a good team and a comfortable environment for mastering a new profession.
Path to Independence and Development
This process of changing professions and adapting to new conditions is not always easy, but it opens up new opportunities for women. They become not only an important part of economic recovery but also proof that women can be strong, decisive, and dedicated to their work.
"We must be the support for our men at the front, and each of us contributes to the restoration of Ukraine," concludes Yulia Skichko.
Changes in the labor market and the active inclusion of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors show a new perspective on the role of women in the modern world. They successfully prove that they can handle the most difficult tasks, and that the future of Ukraine's economy will not depend on who exactly is behind the wheel of heavy machinery or working in construction, but on their willingness to fight for the country's recovery.
Today, women prove that they are not just observers in the country's economic recovery, but active participants in this process. They take on roles that are atypical for them, learn new professions, and help develop important industries that were previously completely dominated by men. This is a vivid example of how, in the conditions of war, Ukrainian women are ready to stand guard over the economic defense of their country.
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