People, big problem: "Mykolaivvodokanal" is looking for fitters, tractor drivers and welders

Director of the municipal enterprise (KP) “Mykolaivvodokanal” Gennadiy Izyumov said that the company has a serious problem with staff shortages. The greatest shortage is of workers in trades who are directly involved in emergency recovery work and network maintenance.

He said this on 22 May 2026 during the program “Dialog” on the TV channel MART. Earlier the company also reported that from 1 July 2026 they plan to increase salaries and tariff rates for employees by 30%.

According to the head, many enterprises feel a personnel deficit today, but for the water utility this is an especially painful issue, because it is the work crews that ensure the elimination of accidents, network repairs and the stable operation of the water supply and sewerage systems. Gennadiy Izyumov explained which specialists the enterprise currently lacks the most.

“Just like at many enterprises, we have a problem with staff shortages. Primarily, we lack repair fitters for emergency recovery work, tractor drivers, excavator operators and electric-gas welders. We are specifically lacking specialists in working trades”, – he said.

At the same time, the director noted that “Mykolaivvodokanal” is trying to address the staffing problem through cooperation with the employment center, adapting new employees and internal training. The company also sends specialists for advanced training and pays for training funded by the water utility. Izyumov emphasized that staff training is an investment in people and the future operation of the water utility.

“We help new employees adapt, send our specialists for advanced training and pay for training at the company’s expense. We understand that this is an investment in people and in the development of the enterprise. But, unfortunately, the shortage of specialists remains a major problem”, – added Gennadiy Izyumov.

The staffing issue was raised against the backdrop of broader problems facing the enterprise. Earlier Gennadiy Izyumov reported that in the financial plan of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal” for 2026 a loss of 665 million hryvnias was budgeted, and consumer debts as of 1 May reached almost 258 million hryvnias.

For Mykolaiv, which lives under conditions of war and constant pressure on critical infrastructure, the shortage of working staff at the water utility means not just an internal problem for the enterprise. It is a question of the speed of emergency repairs, the stability of services, and whether there are enough people to physically keep the city’s networks operational.

Previously we wrote:

• “Mykolaivvodokanal” is going deep into the red: losses may exceed 665 million UAH
• “Mykolaivvodokanal” will increase its employees’ salaries by 30%
• Crisis of trust at “Mykolaivvodokanal”: the company asks the NACP to check its anti-corruption work
• ChatGPT for pipes: Mykolaivvodokanal employees were taught to work with artificial intelligence
• 100 days of changes at “Mykolaivvodokanal”: new management promises the end of the “emergency mode”