The government is launching a national adult internship program "Experience Matters," aimed at people over the age of 50. The project involves the use of algorithms to search for vacancies and free training, including mastering modern artificial intelligence tools.
The government is launching a national adult internship program "Experience Matters," aimed at people over the age of 50. The project involves the use of algorithms to search for vacancies and free training, including mastering modern artificial intelligence tools.
The launch of the initiative was announced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, based on labor market research data discussed with the M. V. Ptukha Institute of Demography of the NAS of Ukraine.
According to the head of the ministry, the economy's need for specialists is currently one of the biggest challenges, especially in the defense industry and construction. Research shows that employers value the reliability of older professionals, but 65% of companies point to a digital skills barrier, and 60% recognize the influence of age stereotypes during hiring.
"People are the foundation of our resilience and economic capacity. Each and every one is needed for the economy in the conditions of war and the country's recovery. We are working on incentives for employers and opportunities for people with experience to return to the labor market," Svyrydenko noted.
The technological feature of the program is the rejection of classic resumes. Instead, candidates fill out a skills matrix — a structured competency classifier. Based on this data, the system uses artificial intelligence to form a rating of the suitability of candidates and companies. It is noted that the algorithm understands the context of experience, and does not simply search for matches by keywords, giving the employer the top 20 most relevant candidates.
Before starting work, participants undergo free training. In addition to career strategy and the psychology of interaction in multi-age teams, the basic module is the study of digital tools and AI. After theoretical training, candidates undergo a 10-day practical internship in the company (in the office, remotely or in a hybrid format), based on the results of which a decision is made on employment.
The project is being implemented jointly with the State Employment Center and business representatives. Applications will open in May , the training phase is scheduled for early summer, and the first internships and jobs will take place from July to October. The initiative is part of a new employment policy aimed at overcoming the staff shortage and automating recruitment processes in the public sector.
