Who Hired the Most Employees Last Year?
OpenDataBot has compiled a ranking of the largest employers in 2026 based on companies’ financial reports. The top three remain unchanged, while the rest of the ranking has seen minor changes: Silpo has overtaken Ukrposhta. Overall, only six of the top ten companies increased their workforce last year.
Ukrzaliznytsia has remained the largest employer for over five years, but its workforce is gradually shrinking. Over the year, the company’s workforce decreased by 5%—to 169,952 employees. Overall, since the start of the full-scale war, the company’s workforce has decreased by 27% or 62,800 people.
Second place is held by ATB with 46,649 employees. Over the past year, the company expanded its team by 565 people (+1%), but since the start of the full-scale war, it has lost 14,133 employees (-23%).
“Over the past year, more than 2,300 new jobs were created at the corporation’s enterprises. On average, the company offers up to 200 job openings to job seekers every month. Current circumstances require us to improve work processes and increase labor productivity—in particular, the automation of many operational algorithms is proceeding at a rapid pace. Throughout these four difficult years of full-scale war, we are proud that, despite all the challenges, we have managed to retain the core of our teams at every retail location. “This is a victory for our store managers and their deputies, who directly organize the work of their subordinates on the ground,” — commented ATB.
Third place goes to Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine, which employs 39,444 people. Over the year, the company added 1,770 employees (+5%) — the largest growth among the top ten.
Silpo overtook Ukrposhta and rose to fourth place with 32,367 employees. Over the year, 1,001 people joined the team (+3%), but compared to 2021, the company lost 9,808 employees (-23%).
Ukrposhta, now in fifth place, has 31,739 employees—its headcount remained unchanged over the year, but the long-term decline is significant: a loss of 30,634 people (-49%) compared to 2021.
Nova Poshta holds the sixth position with 27,572 employees. Over the past year, the company’s workforce has not undergone any significant changes (+0.2%), while since 2021, its workforce has decreased by 2,218 employees (-7%). Nova Poshta explains that the overall reduction in staff is primarily due to the war, employee migration, and changes in operational processes. Going forward, the company’s focus is on retaining key employees and developing an internal talent pool.
“Right now, we’re prioritizing people development: investing in training, mental health support, flexible work arrangements, and expanding our pool of candidates, particularly by hiring veterans, IDPs, and older workers,” notes Anna-Maria Bondarenko, HR Director at Nova Poshta.
The largest percentage change in headcount over the year occurred at Energoatom: -6%. In total, since 2021, the company has lost 8,087 employees (-24%). Currently, according to financial reports, the company employs 25,740 people.
In eighth place is Lisy Ukrainy with 22,252 employees. Currently, the company has the status of “in the process of dissolution” due to a reorganization. At the same time, this company recorded the largest percentage decrease in staff among the top ten last year: -6% (-1,465 people).
Ninth place is held by Ukrnafta—19,583 employees. Over the year, the company grew by 657 people (+4%). However, since 2021, Ukrnafta’s workforce has decreased by 1,213 employees (–6%).
Rounding out the top ten is Ukrgazvydobuvannya with 17,794 employees: +477 people over the year (+3%). This is the only company in the top ten that has increased its workforce since the start of the full-scale war: +979 employees (+6%).
“We ensure Ukraine’s energy independence. Professional and motivated employees are our key asset, guaranteeing the company’s stability and the effective development of fields. Our challenge is to preserve and develop the team’s technical competencies, attract and train young people, and build an elite team for the exploration and development of hydrocarbon deposits,” comments Oleksandr Pimkin, Director of Human Capital at JSC “Ukrgazvydobuvannya.”
https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/top-employer-2026
Finland is among the group of countries that consistently enjoy a high level of trust among Ukrainians. According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 76.2% of respondents have a positive attitude toward this country, indicating its consistently positive image in Ukrainian society. At the same time, the share of negative assessments is minimal—only about 1.1%, which is effectively within the margin of error.
The structure of positive perceptions is evenly distributed: 38.0% of respondents expressed a “completely positive” attitude, while another 38.2% described it as “mostly positive.” This balance indicates not only general approval but also deep trust in Finland as a partner. At the same time, 21.4% of respondents hold a neutral position, which may be explained by the country’s relatively limited presence in Ukraine’s everyday information landscape.
Negative assessments remain marginal: 0.9% of respondents chose the “mostly negative” option, and only 0.2% selected “completely negative.” The share of those who could not decide on an answer is 1.2%. This pattern indicates the absence of systemic factors that could shape a negative image of Finland in Ukraine.
Overall, Finland is perceived as a country with a high level of institutional trust, stability, and consistent policies. Its image in Ukrainian society is shaped not only by its political stance but also by associations with effective governance, a social model, and high living standards.
The high level of positive attitude also reflects a broader trend: Northern European countries are perceived by Ukrainians as reliable partners who demonstrate consistency in their policies and support for Ukraine. Against this backdrop, Finland is consolidating its position as one of the countries with the most stable positive image, without significant fluctuations in perception.
“Ukrainians quite clearly distinguish between countries based on the level of trust and predictability of their policies. Where there is consistency and a clear position, a stable positive attitude is formed. That is why countries like Finland maintain high ratings regardless of short-term fluctuations in public opinion,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Finland ranks 43rd in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $392.9 million. At the same time, imports from Finland are nearly seven times higher than Ukrainian exports, resulting in a trade deficit of $293.5 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, FINLAND, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
JSC “Ukrnafta” has implemented a corporate system for maintenance and repair (M&R) management and has begun putting it into practical use, according to a press release issued by the company on Tuesday.
“The goal is to create a unified electronic system for managing production assets: from equipment inventory to the analysis of maintenance and repair costs,” the press release stated.
The company explained that this essentially involves creating a “digital twin,” which allows for more accurate work planning, cost forecasting, and more efficient use of resources.
Since February 2026, the system has been in pilot operation at Ukrnafta’s regional divisions.
The project is being implemented based on the EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) approach. It encompasses 16 modules and 39 end-to-end business processes at Levels 1 and 2, ensuring management of the full lifecycle of production assets.
According to Ukrnafta, one of the project’s key priorities is the creation of a unified equipment database. Approximately 47,000 fixed assets have already been identified, of which 39,000 (over 80%) have been uploaded to the system. Approximately 8,000 repair objects have been created, over 150 types of equipment (more than 4,800 models) have been standardized, and more than 7,000 units of technical documentation have been uploaded.
A digital passport is created for each object, containing a complete history of repairs, defects, downtime, and relocations.
In addition, a maintenance and repair (M&R) standards database has been created: over 10,000 process charts contain per-operation labor costs, standards, a list of tools, and qualification requirements. All resources are integrated with the ERP system, enabling the automation of procurement requests and order generation.
The request management process (BPMN 2.0) has also been standardized—from defect recording to analysis of completed work and transfer of costs to the ERP. Approximately 500 typical defects have already been defined for the analysis of technical failures.
The system is integrated with the ERP, ensuring transparent financial accounting of repairs and cost control at every stage.
“We are systematically transitioning to a digital model of production asset management. This is not a standalone IT project, but a shift in the approach to production management. The system enables control at all stages—from equipment condition and work planning to costs and performance results,” said Ukrnafta CEO Bohdan Kukura, as quoted by the press service.
According to him, this results in increased process transparency, execution discipline, and the quality of management decisions.
In turn, as explained by Oleg Deberyna, head of the maintenance and repair system implementation department, Ukrnafta is effectively creating a unified digital asset management system that enables real-time monitoring of equipment status, work planning, and control over resources and costs.
“It is important that the system covers the entire cycle—from defect recording to failure root cause analysis and management decision-making. This significantly improves the efficiency and manageability of production processes,” he added.
As the company summarized, the implementation of the M&R system represents a shift in the approach to asset management: unified rules for working with equipment, standardization of processes, enhanced data management, and improved production reliability and safety.
The next stage is scaling the system to all of the company’s structural units, including internal services. Implementation will proceed in phases until mid-2027.
JSC “Ukrnafta” is Ukraine’s largest oil production company, carrying out a full cycle of activities in the field of production: exploration, oil and gas production, provision of oilfield services, as well as management of the largest network of gas stations in Ukraine, UKRNAFTA.
The company has over 1,106 oil wells and 131 gas wells on its balance sheet.
The shareholders of JSC “Ukrnafta” are NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Since 2022, the company has been under state management and is implementing a large-scale business transformation.
UKRNAFTA is Ukraine’s largest network of gas stations, comprising nearly 700 stations and ranking among the top three in terms of fuel sales volume. The UKRNAFTA brand consolidates networks that previously operated under the Glusco, Shell, and U.Go brands.
Agrotrade Group has launched its 2026 spring sowing campaign in four regions of Ukraine, namely Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava regions, Ivan Kriuchkov, director of the group’s agro-industrial department, said on the agricultural holding’s Facebook page.
According to the statement, the agricultural holding revised its crop rotation structure for the 2026 season: the areas under sunflower and corn were increased at the expense of soybean plantings. About 16.5 thousand hectares were allocated for corn (24.9% of the total structure), 16 thousand hectares for sunflower (28.6%), while soybeans will occupy 3 thousand hectares.
“We have good expectations for this season. Timely implementation of agricultural operations and proper crop care are important conditions for success. The team is focused on delivering everything planned,” Kriuchkov said.
As of April 21, the agricultural holding had completed sowing on about 12% of the planned production area, using 18 seeders. The campaign is expected to be completed within three weeks. In 2026, Agrotrade plans to improve efficiency through the introduction of Strip-Till and no-till technologies.
As reported, corn became the most productive crop for Agrotrade in 2025 and showed an average yield of 9.89 tonnes per hectare, which was 17% above plan. In particular, the borderland clusters in Sumy and Chernihiv regions recorded yields of 10.3-10.4 tonnes per hectare.
Agrotrade Group is a vertically integrated holding cultivating more than 70 thousand hectares of land. It owns a network of elevators with a total capacity of 570 thousand tonnes and a seed plant based at the Kolos farm in Kharkiv region. Its founder and CEO is Vsevolod Kozhemiako.
As of April 20, farmers had sown 1,251.9 thousand hectares with spring grain and leguminous crops, which amounts to 21% of the forecast for 2026, the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture reported on Tuesday.
According to оперативе statistics, over the past week farmers sowed 254.9 thousand hectares compared with 168.7 thousand hectares the previous week. The pace of field work increased by 1.5 times, but the overall figures are 15.3% behind last year’s pace, when as of April 25, 2025, 1,478.7 thousand hectares had been sown.
The Ministry of Economy clarified that so far 623.8 thousand hectares of barley have been sown (83% of the plan), peas – 238.3 thousand hectares (87%), wheat – 158.8 thousand hectares (85%) and oats – 117.5 thousand hectares (85%). Corn sowing has intensified and reached 75.7 thousand hectares (2% of the forecast), the area under millet amounts to 1.2 thousand hectares (3%), and buckwheat sowing has started (0.01 thousand hectares). Other spring grain and leguminous crops have been sown on 36.5 thousand hectares (27% of the forecast).
The highest sowing rates for grain and leguminous crops have currently been recorded in Odesa region (168.2 thousand hectares), Ternopil region (96.3 thousand hectares), Mykolaiv region (89.4 thousand hectares) and Poltava region (86.5 thousand hectares).
At the same time, sowing of industrial crops is continuing, with 440.8 thousand hectares already sown. In particular, 293.6 thousand hectares have been allocated for sunflower (6% of the forecast), and 21.8 thousand hectares for soybeans (1%). Sugar beet has been sown on 125.4 thousand hectares, which is 64% of the planned area.
As reported, as of April 25, 2025, 2,000 thousand hectares in Ukraine had been sown with spring grain and leguminous crops. In particular, corn accounted for 705 thousand hectares, barley – 702.1 thousand hectares, wheat – 199.8 thousand hectares, peas – 201.8 thousand hectares, and oats – 154.2 thousand hectares. On the same date last year, 1,236.8 thousand hectares had been sown with sunflower, 187.6 thousand hectares with soybeans, and 228.5 thousand hectares with sugar beet.
According to the forecast of the Ministry of Economy, the total area of spring grain and leguminous crops in 2026 will amount to 6.002 mln hectares, of which corn will account for 4.418 mln hectares. Among industrial crops, 5 mln hectares are planned for sunflower, 2.04 mln hectares for soybeans, and 197.2 thousand hectares for sugar beet.
AGRICULTURE, FARMERS, GRAINS, SOWING CAMPAIGN, SPRING SOWING
The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan invites representatives of the business community, investment companies, the banking and financial sector, industry associations, chambers of commerce and industry, international organizations, and the expert community to participate in the 5th Anniversary Tashkent International Investment Forum.
The event will take place June 16–18, 2026, in Tashkent and will serve as one of the key international platforms for discussing investment cooperation and developing new partnership solutions. The forum’s theme—“Investment Resilience: New Frontiers, New Partnerships”—will focus on protecting investments amid global uncertainty, establishing sustainable financial mechanisms, and developing new avenues of cooperation in promising markets.
The forum will feature discussions on macroeconomic trends and the investment potential of Uzbekistan, which is demonstrating steady growth and rising international ratings, as well as practical aspects of implementing investment projects.
Particular attention will be paid to the launch of the Tashkent International Financial Center, the development of financial infrastructure, trade and transport connectivity, the energy transition, and climate finance. The program includes panel discussions, industry sessions, bilateral meetings in B2B and B2G formats, as well as discussions on arbitration and investment protection.
The forum will provide participants with the opportunity to establish direct contacts with representatives of government agencies, international financial institutions, and the business community, learn about investment projects, and expand business cooperation.
Additionally, a rich business and cultural program is planned, including thematic events, networking sessions, and special events for forum participants.
