HUMAN CAPITAL IN POSTAL LOGISTICS AS A FACTOR IN THE ACCELERATED RESTORATION OF UKRAINE'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

The article examines the transformation of the labor market in Ukraine under the conditions of modern economic, demographic, and geopolitical challenges. Particular attention is paid to structural imbalances caused by labor migration, population decline, and the reduction of economically active labor resources. It is determined that the Ukrainian labor market is gradually shifting from the problem of unemployment to the problem of workforce shortage, especially in strategically important sectors of the economy. In this context, the logistics sector and postal operators play a critical role in maintaining economic stability, ensuring uninterrupted supply chains, and supporting business activity. The study substantiates that traditional approaches to labor market assessment based only on employment and unemployment indicators are insufficient for analyzing the real efficiency of labor resource utilization. Due to this, the article proposes an operational approach to evaluating labor efficiency through the analysis of sorting operations at logistics terminals. A comprehensive efficiency model is developed, which considers not only labor productivity indicators but also operational time and the level of sorting errors. The proposed model allows assessing the impact of human capital quality on the stability and efficiency of logistics processes. The research demonstrates that labor shortages significantly influence operational performance in logistics systems, leading to increased workload, reduced productivity, and deterioration in service quality. Based on the proposed model, it is proven that investments in personnel qualification, professional training, and process optimization contribute to substantial improvements in sorting efficiency and operational stability. The results of the study indicate that even under conditions of limited labor resources, the efficiency of logistics systems can be improved through effective human capital management and optimization of operational processes. The scientific novelty of the study lies in integrating labor market transformation processes with operational efficiency assessment in logistics systems. Unlike traditional economic approaches, the article considers migration and labor shortages not only as demographic or social problems but also as factors directly affecting operational performance in logistics and postal services. The practical significance of the research is related to the possibility of applying the proposed methodological approach in the activities of logistics companies, postal operators, and enterprises that depend on labor-intensive operational processes. It has been proven that improving personnel qualifications contributes to reducing the number of errors and shortening shipment processing time.