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
According to OpenDataBot’s ranking of Ukraine’s largest employers by region, based on companies’ financial reports for 2023, DTEK Odessa Power Grids has become the largest employer in the Odessa region, providing jobs for more than 3,000 employees. The company specializes in the transmission and distribution of electricity and is part of the DTEK energy group owned by businessman Rinat Akhmetov (SKM group).
According to State Statistics Service and open sources:
Number of employees: about 3,200 (as of the end of 2023)
Revenue: UAH 6.9 billion (2023)
According to public statements, the company is investing in the modernization of power grids and the digitization of services. In 2023 alone, more than UAH 700 million was allocated to infrastructure upgrades and improving the reliability of power supply.
According to the OpenDataBot rating, the Fora chain has become the largest employer in the Kyiv region, with 9,100 employees.
The chain was founded in 2002 and is part of the Fozzy Group (owned by Vladimir Kostelman, Oleg Sotnikov, and Arkady Geller).
The company actively develops its corporate culture, employing veterans, young people, and people with disabilities.
JSC “MOTOR SICH” topped the rating of the largest employers in the Zaporizhzhia region according to OpenDataBot, based on the official financial statements of companies.
The aircraft engine manufacturing plant was founded in 1907. Since 2022, it has been owned by the Ukrainian state. Previously, it was controlled by the Boguslaev family.
Number of employees: 13,300. Financial indicators: The company’s revenue in 2023 is about UAH 4 billion. The number of employees decreased by 8% compared to the previous year. The enterprise is strategic for Ukraine’s defense industry.
52% of employers believe that psychological problems and behavioral peculiarities hinder the employment of veterans with disabilities, according to the research of the charitable foundation “You are with us”.
In particular, when asked what peculiarities of veterans with disabilities hinder their employment, 24% of employers answered that there are no peculiarities, 52% noted psychological problems and behavioral peculiarities, 19% – alcoholism and drug use, and 5% believe that veterans with disabilities should receive assistance from the state so that there is no need to work.
Also, when asked what incentives the employer needs from the state to employ a veteran with a disability, respondents most often named: compensation for the cost of equipping workplaces for the needs of an employee with a disability; benefits for the payment of unified social tax; and subsidies for each such employed employee.
The survey was conducted in April-July 2023. In the course of the research 468 managers and owners of small, medium and large enterprises in all regions of the country and different sectors of the economy were interviewed. Surveys were conducted under conditions of anonymity by telephone questionnaire. It is noted that 18% of surveyed enterprises have more than 100 employees, 28% – up to 100 employees and 54% – up to 20 employees.
disability, employer, EMPLOYMENT, psychological problems, ветеран
