Cabinet Resolution #420 of April 1, 2026

Who is affected: people aged 50 and over who are looking for work or seeking to change their field of employment; employers; regional employment centers; the Ministry of Economy.

Summary:

  • the resolution introduces a specialized employment tool for people aged 50 and over, which includes three consecutive elements:
    • training in key competencies for up to three months;
    • short interviews with employers lasting up to 15 minutes;
    • a 10-day internship directly at an enterprise to confirm practical skills;
  • regional employment centers are assigned the role of active intermediaries. They are responsible for:
    • creating databases of vacant positions;
    • selecting candidates for the specific staffing needs of an employer;
    • organizing career consultations;
    • providing support after a refusal of employment;
  • applications can be submitted both in paper and electronic form — through the website of the State Employment Center, the Diia portal, or the Obrii system;
  • employers are obliged to report the results of interviews, indicating the reason for refusal, which will help to reveal the real employment barriers faced by this age group;
  • quarterly monitoring of participants’ employment will be conducted through the register of insured persons, with consolidated reporting to the Ministry of Economy.

What is right:

The format of a short interview of up to 15 minutes is an unconventional and practically motivated solution. It lowers the entry threshold for an employer who might otherwise not spend time on an older candidate. The obligation for the employer to indicate the reason for refusal is also an important element: accumulated data will make it possible to identify systemic manifestations of discrimination and adjust the program accordingly. Funding from international donors means that the program does not compete with other budget items.

What happened:

The “Experience Matters” program is part of a broader employment policy that the government is developing to address labor shortages. Currently, 75% of Ukrainian companies report a lack of employees, while millions of people remain outside the labor market — older persons, women with care responsibilities, young people, veterans, internally displaced persons, and persons with disabilities. The program for people aged 50+ is one element of this system. The resolution offers not merely referral to a vacant position, but comprehensive support from training to internship and post-refusal consultation. This is an example of a new logic in state employment policy: not only creating jobs but removing the barriers to accessing them.