Step towards moving to the EU countries: work in Slovakia
A small picturesque country, located in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains, was an agricultural region of Czechoslovakia a quarter of a century ago, and now it is an independent state in the European Union with a rapidly developing economy. In terms of gross domestic product per capita, Slovakia has confidently overtaken Hungary and Poland. Foreign investment has given rise to the development of a powerful automotive industry, which requires attracting workers from abroad. Work in Slovakia is attractive to Ukrainians due to the country\’s territorial location and stable salaries. An additional bonus is that a large number of ethnic Ukrainians with a similar mentality live in this small state on the Danube. Temporary work in Slovakia can really become the first step towards moving to the European Union for permanent residence.
Work in Slovakia for Ukrainians: Current vacancies on the labor market
The transition to the euro and financial injections from Germany into the country\’s industry ensured economic growth in production and the standard of living of Slovaks, but here too there is a difference in the level of development between regions. The small state can safely be called a country of contrasts. Underdeveloped mountainous regions neighbor ski resorts with slopes and hotels that are not inferior to those in Austria and Switzerland. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, pales in comparison with Ukrainian Lviv, which is more like a real European city, and along with the shortage of labor, the country has a 9% unemployment rate.
Joining the European Union, as in other countries of the former socialist camp, has led to an outflow of qualified personnel to Austria, England, and Belgium. Local residents are reluctant to work in enterprises with difficult working conditions associated with physical exertion, thus freeing up jobs for migrants from Eastern Europe.
Available vacancies for migrants in Slovakia
Like any EU country, Slovakia carefully protects the rights of its citizens at the legislative level, and there is a quota system to limit jobs for foreigners. Ukrainians can only get a work permit if there are vacancies under the labor quota.
In Slovakia, you can get a good job if you have high qualifications:
- in construction specialties;
- engineers and technologists in the mechanical engineering field;
- programmers;
- doctors.
Automobile factories, almost all of which were built in the new century or at the end of the last one, are also a good school for young specialists from Ukraine. The latest equipment and modern technologies will broaden the horizons of engineers who graduated from Ukrainian universities and completed internships at their native enterprises. And European-style working conditions and salaries several times higher than Ukrainian ones will make the “internship” enjoyable.
In addition to qualified specialists, Slovakia requires:
- nannies and caregivers;
- general laborers at industrial enterprises;
- construction workers;
- workers in the agricultural sector;
- waiters and salespeople;
- loaders and janitors;
- maids, cleaners at enterprises;
- instructors and service personnel at ski resorts.
As everywhere, in Slovakia, working as a driver is relevant and financially attractive for Ukrainians.
Salary Order: Work in Slovakia in 2026
Salaries in Slovakia are relatively low by European standards, but attractive for Ukrainians. This is especially interesting given the working conditions at Slovak enterprises, most of which were built relatively recently.
The average salary in Slovakia is around €1,000, and the minimum is €450.
The greatest opportunities to find a high-paying job are in the capital. Bratislava is the main concentration of companies interested in highly qualified employees. With fluency in German and English, applicants have a real opportunity to count on a salary of up to €2,000. It is worth considering that employers value women\’s work a quarter lower than men\’s. Nannies earn about €400 on average, and nurses and orderlies earn the same or slightly more. A construction worker can earn €800.
How to get a job in Slovakia: opportunities for Ukrainians
With the introduction of a visa-free regime with EU countries in Ukraine, finding a job in Slovakia has become easier, but a work permit is still mandatory. In order not to burden yourself with searching for vacancies and preparing documents, it is easier to contact a recruiting agency with established contacts abroad. Specialists will select the most advantageous offers for you, and lawyers will conclude an employment contract that protects your interests.
With the introduction of a visa-free regime, employers in Slovakia offer Ukrainians employment with a biometric passport for a period of 90 days or with a Polish work visa. This method is especially good if you do not plan to stay in the country for a long time, want to earn extra money during the holidays or undergo a kind of \”testing\” at a certain workplace. If the working conditions suit you, and you, as a specialist, employer, have every opportunity to get a permanent job for a long time.
