Academic guidance
See subchapter ‘Academic guidance’ in the 11.6 ‘Guidance and counselling in higher education’.
Psychological counselling
See the next section ‘Career guidance’.
Career guidance
According to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Employment of the Population’ (Закон України ‘Про зайнятість населення’), career guidance for adults is a set of connected economic, social, medical, psychological, and educational measures. These measures help people choose or change a profession and realise their ability to work. Career guidance helps identify a person’s abilities, interests, skills, and other factors that influence career choice. Education institutions, healthcare institutions, rehabilitation centres, employment authorities, career guidance centres, youth employment centres, territorial recruitment and social support centres, penal institutions, enterprises, and organisations of all forms of ownership provide career guidance services.
Professional orientation of persons who have applied to the territorial bodies of the central executive authority responsible for implementing state policy in the field of employment and labour migration, in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Employment of the Population’ is carried out through:
- career information, which provides information on work and its role in career choice, the labour market situation, modern professions, skills, training options, and career development opportunities;
- career counselling, which supports career choice based on personal characteristics, life situation, professional interests, health condition, and labour market needs;
- professional selection, which checks whether a person meets the requirements of specific professions or positions;
- career diagnostics, which assesses personal characteristics, abilities, interests, skills, and capacities. Employment authorities provide these services in line with the Procedure approved by the special Order of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine (Порядок надання територіальними органами центрального органу виконавчої влади, що реалізує державну політику у сфері зайнятості населення та трудової міграції, послуг з професійної орієнтації осіб).
Another key document that regulates career guidance for adults is the Regulation ‘On Career Guidance for Learners’ (Наказ ‘Про затвердження Положення про професійну орієнтацію молоді, яка навчається’). This Regulation defines the main functions of career guidance and psychological support for adults, including:
- free provision of basic career guidance services for employed and unemployed persons and persons with disabilities;
- career information on professions and specialisations in demand on the regional labour market;
- individual information services and career counselling with elements of psychological support;
- guidance on how to choose a profession and develop self-knowledge and personal initiative;
- support in comparing personal characteristics with job requirements and planning career development;
- organisation of group career counselling for employed and unemployed persons and persons with disabilities;
- support for the development of professionally important personal qualities;
- in-depth career diagnostics for professional guidance and selection;
- psychological support and correction of career choice;
- assessment of professional suitability for training or employment;
- support for professional adaptation during training and employment;
- support for workers who enter employment for the first time or change profession.
The Concept of the State System of Career Guidance for the Population sets out the general framework for career guidance for adults. The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ‘On Approval of the Concept of the State System of Vocational Guidance of the Population’ (Постанова Кабінету Міністрів України ‘Про затвердження Концепції державної системи професійної орієнтації населення’) approves it.
In 2025, Ukraine launched the transitional information platform ‘EUROGUIDANCE in Ukraine’. This platform allows adults to access the best career guidance practices from EU Member States.