Study of the current state of wages in Ukraine in the context of social justice

The level of wages of citizens is one of the most important factors in the development of the state, the basis for the formation of society on the principles of social justice. Being under the constant influence of all participants of social and labor relations, the level of wages requires constant analysis and monitoring. In this case, special attention should be paid to the assessment of how wages perform their basic functions and ensure social justice, namely, contributes to the reduction of poverty and improve the overall standard of living of the working population. The article investigates the features of the formation of wages in the Ukrainian economy during 2010-2018. The dynamics of the minimum wage in the context of the impact on the poverty level of the working population of Ukraine is considered. The changes in the level of wages on average in the economy, the indices of nominal and real wages, as well as the differentiation of wages by individual types of economic activity that has developed in Ukraine in recent years are analyzed. The study revealed that the formation of wages in the Ukrainian economy does not correspond to the principle of social justice in society. Raising social standards, namely the statutory minimum wage, is aimed primarily at reducing only extreme forms of poverty. In recent years, Ukraine has seen a slowdown in the growth rate of both minimum and average wages, there is a drop in the overall standard of living of the working population. Traditionally, wages remain low (less than the national average) both in socially important activities (health and education) and in priority ones in terms of sustainable economic development (construction and agriculture). Low wages generally reduce the attractiveness of work, the motivation of workers, contribute to the outflow of labor to other activities (or even abroad), lead to imbalances in the labor market and the emergence of a shortage of qualified personnel. Thus, the issue of ensuring social justice in the formation of wages requires an immediate solution and should be a priority of state policy in the coming years.