The State Employment Service (SES), in partnership with the international organization Helvetas and with the support of Sweden, launched a communication campaign for youth employment "START — Career"

The State Employment Service (SES), in partnership with the international organization Helvetas and with the support of Sweden, has launched a communication campaign for youth employment "START - Career". The goal is to help young people aged 18 to 25 see promising career opportunities in Ukraine and introduce them to support tools from the SES.

The campaign is aimed at young people starting their professional journey. The communication was built in the form of a game around a consistent path of professional development “from NPC to PRO” — from a beginner who is just looking for his direction to a confident specialist or entrepreneur.

As part of the campaign, the PES talks about available tools to support youth, including:

  • Single job portal;
  • career counseling and guidance;
  • vocational training and retraining programs;
  • internship and first job;
  • government grant programs for starting and developing a business.

"The modern labor market is dynamic, and we understand that it is often difficult for young people to take the first step or find a job without experience. The "START — Career" campaign is designed to show that the State Employment Service is not a bureaucratic institution, but a modern and understandable platform for a career start. We offer young people to go from a beginner to a real pro, using our digital tools: from a quick job search on the Unified Vacancy Portal to receiving a grant for their own business or free training. Our goal is to give young Ukrainians real support, motivation, and resources so that they can see their future and develop their careers right here, in Ukraine," noted Yulia Zhovtyak, Director of the State Employment Service.

A separate area of ​​the campaign is dedicated to supporting young women in choosing professions and fields where men are conventionally dominant and there is a shortage of personnel. The campaign focuses on the opportunities for professional fulfillment and economic prospects of such a choice.

"Inclusive employment is when access to work and professional development is not limited by any barriers, and opportunities for participation in the economy are equal for all. We support approaches that expand the participation of women and youth in the labor market and help overcome stereotypes. The "START — Career" campaign is consistent with these values ​​and contributes to a broader societal change in stereotypes regarding professional choices, career paths, and self-realization," explained Helvetas project manager Olga Perepechaeva.

One of the key formats of the campaign was a series for TikTok and Instagram of the State Employment Service. It will show real stories of young people who have already used the support of the PES: they have completed training, acquired a new profession, improved their qualifications, or received a grant for their own business.

The campaign is also complemented by an interactive landing page , which includes professional directions, opportunities for youth from the PES, guides, checklists, and a career guidance test presented in an easy game format.

This approach helps to show the opportunities of the labor market simply and clearly - through real examples and practical steps towards a professional choice.

We expect that as a result of the campaign, more young people will learn about the possibilities of state support and use them for professional development and employment in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the State Employment Service has provided services to more than 700 thousand young people. Every third was employed. Almost 50 thousand people underwent vocational training, 14 thousand received a grant to create or develop their own business, of which more than 1 thousand are veterans.