How can vocational education become a driver of post-war recovery? In Ukraine, this is already becoming a reality. Millions of Ukrainians have lost their jobs, homes, or professions due to the war. At the same time, the economy is experiencing a severe shortage of qualified workers in construction and technical fields. According to the State Employment Service, the number of vacancies is almost twice the number of active job seekers. Welders, electricians and plumbers are in particularly high demand. By 2026, the construction sector alone is expected to require more than 150,000 new specialists. 

In June 2025, Swisscontact launched a new intervention within the EdUP project – Coaching and Education for Employment in Ukraine. The initiative aims to address the workforce gap and support the economic integration of people affected by the war, including representatives of vulnerable groups – women, veterans, persons with disabilities, internally displaced people (IDPs), and others who require additional support. 

The new intervention of the Project offers a multi-month training model that combines professional skills, mental health support, and entrepreneurship development. 

The UBS Optimus Foundation – the philanthropic arm of UBS, Switzerland’s largest financial institution — has joined the initiative. This partnership confirms that the international community views the development of vocational education in Ukraine as a crucial element of sustainable recovery. The project brings together private capital, expertise, and local resources into a model that links skills development with economic growth. 

Goals of the intervention: 

• Expand access to quality vocational education for adults affected by the war, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, veterans and internally displaced persons. 
• Promote employment and self-employment in key reconstruction sectors. 
• Strengthen the capacity of VET institutions to deliver modern, accessible and inclusive courses. 
• Integrate psychosocial support, soft skills and entrepreneurship into the learning process. 

The intervention consists of several interconnected components 

1. Multi-month vocational courses. Participants receive training in high-demand construction trades: electrician, plumber, or welder. The curricula are developed in cooperation with the private sector to ensure alignment with current labour market needs. 
2. Coaching and psychosocial support. A unique feature of the programme is the combination of vocational training with mental health support. Alongside their technical training, participants attend coaching sessions and group meetings with psychologists. This helps them cope with the consequences of traumatic experiences, rebuild motivation, strengthen self-regulation, develop resilience, and improve their ability to adapt in the workplace. 
3. Entrepreneurship and life skills. For those who wish to work independently or start their own business, the programme offers basic entrepreneurship training. Participants also acquire essential employability skills — preparing a professional CV, getting ready for a job interview, understanding the basics of self-employment, and gaining other competencies that support their first steps in a chosen profession. 
4. Institutional support. This includes upgrading training facilities, updating curricula, training teachers and psychologists, strengthening inclusion practices and enhancing cooperation with employers. 

Implementation geography. The programme is implemented in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv. Over three training cycles (until 2027), more than 500 participants are expected to acquire a new profession, adapt to new circumstances and return to active economic life. 

Ultimately, Ukraine’s recovery begins with people. With those who are forced to start over, who seek stability in a new profession, and who strive to secure a future for their families. The Coaching and Education for Employment in Ukraine intervention demonstrates how international solidarity, the private sector and Ukrainian institutions can work together to shape a labour market capable of meeting today’s reconstruction challenges.