This year, despite the war, Ukrainian government employees received a record salary increase.
According to the Ministry of Finance, at the beginning of 2024, the average accrued salary in government bodies was 38.6 thousand hryvnias, but as of October (there is no newer information yet), it had already reached 57.5 thousand, which means an increase of almost 19 thousand over 10 months. By the year’s end, these figures will be even higher as large bonus payments are planned for December.
For comparison, the average salary in the country, according to the results of the third quarter, was approximately 21.9 thousand hryvnias. This means that officials, even at the middle level, let alone those holding high positions, receive 2.6 times more.
In many ministries and agencies, salaries have doubled or even more since the beginning of the year.
For example, in the State Statistics Service, average salaries increased from 17.5 thousand in January 2024 to 35.9 thousand in October.
Employees of the State Labor Service, who received an average of 15.6 thousand at the beginning of the year, earned 42 thousand in October, which is 24.5 thousand more for less than a year.
The Ministry of Veterans Affairs also recorded a record increase — from 20 to 55.1 thousand hryvnias. In the Ministry of Economy, salaries rose from 40 thousand to 69.1 thousand hryvnias, in the Ministry of Agricultural Policy — from 22.6 to 53.5 thousand hryvnias, in the State Agency for Energy Efficiency — from 15.6 to 60.6 thousand, or almost four times more, and so on.
A specialist from one of the departments of the capital’s tax service, Mykhailo, told "Krayina" that his salary increased from 25 thousand last year to almost 50 thousand this year, that is, doubled.
Interestingly, particularly significant salary increases in government bodies began in June-July, precisely during the discussions of the "huge deficit" in the state budget, to "patch" which Ukrainians later had their taxes raised to record levels, including a military tax increase from 1.5% to 5%.
We explain what caused the sharp increase in officials’ salaries.