SOCIAL INCLUSION AS A FACTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR UKRAINE

The article proves that social inclusion is a crucial factor in Ukraine's economic development, as it contributes to expanding labor potential, reducing poverty levels, and ensuring social stability. The necessity of integrating socially vulnerable groups into economic processes is substantiated by expanding employment opportunities, improving access to education, entrepreneurship, and financial resources. The causal relationships between the level of social inclusion and the pace of economic growth are revealed, highlighting the significant potential of an inclusive economy in ensuring the country's sustainable development. The article analyzes the main challenges faced by Ukraine amid structural economic transformations, including the consequences of war, demographic changes, digitalization, and increasing social inequality. It is proven that the lack of effective mechanisms for engaging socially vulnerable groups in economic activities negatively impacts labor productivity, innovation potential, and the overall well-being of the population. Special attention is given to international experience in social inclusion, which can be adapted to Ukrainian realities. The role of state policy in promoting social inclusion is substantiated through expanding access to the labor market, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, developing digital technologies, and reforming the education system. The article examines the dynamics of several socio-economic indicators in Ukraine that characterize the level of social inclusion, including indicators of inclusive education, and access to financial services, Gini coefficient etc. It is proven that social inclusion should become a strategic priority of Ukraine’s state policy in the context of post-war recovery. A set of measures is proposed to enhance the level of social inclusion of the population, including the development of retraining programs for internally displaced persons, stimulation of entrepreneurial activity among socially vulnerable categories, implementation of digital solutions to expand access to financial resources, and reform of the social protection system. The implementation of such measures will contribute to the formation of a stable socio-economic development model that meets modern challenges and European standards.