Statistics service: Highest average wages paid in Ukrainian capital, Donetsk region

Ukraine's State Statistics Service has reported that the highest average wages in September 2020 were paid in the city of Kyiv and Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk region.

The average amount in Kyiv as of the end of September 2020 was UAH 17,253 (US$608) and that in Donetsk region was UAH 12,981 (US$457.6), the State Statistics Service said on its website.

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The lowest average wage in the country was recorded in Volyn region, it was UAH 9,766 (US$344).

The average nominal wage of a full-time employee in Ukraine in September 2020 increased 12.3% year-over-year, to UAH 11,998 (US$423).

At the same time, the average nominal wage in September 2020 increased by 4.8% compared to August 2020.

Real wages in September 2020 increased by 4.3% compared to the previous month and by 9.7% compared to September 2019.

The State Statistics Service notes that the average nominal wage of a full-time employee in Ukraine in September this year was 2.4 times higher than the minimum wage, which is set at UAH 5,000 (US$176).

Chronology of events

• The minimum wage in Ukraine from January 1, 2020, increased by UAH 550 (almost US$20), to UAH 4,723 (US$166.5) per month, or UAH 28.31 (almost US$7) per hour.
• The unemployment rate in Ukraine in January-March 2020 compared to the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased by 0.1 percentage points, to 8.6% from 8.7%, which in absolute terms is 1.5 million people.
• According to the Ukrainian government's macroeconomic forecast for the next three years, the unemployment rate for the population aged 15 to 70 is projected at 9.2% in 2021, 8.5% in 2022, and 8% in 2023.
• On May 20, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution on allocating UAH 2.279 billion (US$80.3 million) to the Social Policy Ministry to provide financial assistance to the Social Insurance Fund from the fund set up to fight the coronavirus and its consequences.
• In June, the Cabinet allocated UAH 2.973 billion, or US$104.8 million) from the coronavirus fund to provide financial assistance to the Social Insurance Fund.
• On August 25, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, adopted a law on raising the minimum wage to UAH 5,000 from September 1.