The article describes findings of a sociological survey on how labor activity of hired employees is influenced by the social guarantees and benefits in the sphere of employment and wages. The study confirms that though the balance between labor efficiency of workers and the level of payment for their labor forms one of the bases for stimulating enterprise and labor activity of employable population it is not the only means of labor motivation. The importance of social protection of hired employees becomes particularly evident during economic crises, periods of instability and social transformations. Currently, various social guarantees such as timely payment of wage, adherence to the labor regime and annual paid leave are legislatively provided by the state for social protection of hired employees. Thus, the full compliance with these provisions by enterprises, firstly, presents a powerful stimulating factor for the effective work of employable population and, secondly, motivates workers to focus on labor activity in the official sector of the economy. Nevertheless, the availability of the social guarantees, social security and working conditions provided by businesses and institutions today do not always stimulate workers to implement their labor potential in the official economy. It is a large number of violations of the social and labor rights of citizens that leads to reducing labor activity of workers in the official economy and also promotes their positive attitude towards “shadow” employment.