Why IT Developers from Ukraine Are in High Demand Globally
Over the past few years, Ukraine's information technology market has been attracting increasing attention from the global community. This is because, despite war, crises, partial salary reductions, and emergency process reorganization, the IT sector remains the driving force of the country's economy, growing at incredible rates.
Today, Ukraine ranks 1st out of 169 in The Good Country Index for its contribution to the development of science and technology, making it one of the best European countries for conducting technological business, offering vast opportunities for its growth.
Source: The Good Country Index
To understand the reasons behind such rapid progress in the country's IT sector and the demand for services from Ukrainian developers, let's examine its features, analyze its current state, and make predictions for development in 2024.
The Rising Global Demand for IT Talent from Ukraine
In the last two decades, IT outsourcing in Ukraine has experienced a boom. The country is an ideal place for developing information technology, with various assets to attract investors.
Despite the challenges and numerous difficulties associated with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the IT industry contributed $7.35 billion in export revenue to the economy, achieving a 5.8% growth compared to 2021.
This figure is remarkable as it represents the highest indicator in the entire history of the Ukrainian IT industry, achieved precisely during wartime. There are many reasons for this, but let's explore them step by step.
IT Education in Ukraine
According to the latest global population review, Ukraine has a very high literacy rate of 99,7%. This indicates a well-developed information and educational environment in the country.
Ukraine has around 150 universities offering information technology programs. The most popular ones include:
In addition to state universities, a vast array of diverse courses, private schools, and other educational institutions provide numerous opportunities for learning and professional growth in information technology.
Areas of Expertise and Technical Skills
The tech ecosystem in Ukraine is quite developed, allowing developers to specialize in a variety of fields.
Below, we have compiled a list of the most common directions:
Software development
Cybersecurity
Databases
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
System administration
Web development
DevOps and automation
Internet of Things (IoT)
All qualified specialists possess the following personal qualities: analytical thinking, high adaptability, responsibility, attentiveness, perseverance, endurance, and efficiency.
Professional skills include:
Proficiency in technical English at the Upper Intermediate level or higher.
Knowledge of programming languages based on company needs (HTML, Java, JavaScript, C; C++, PHP, etc.).
Experience in designing data storage structures.
Practice with Microsoft SQL Analysis Services, Microsoft SQL Server, Reporting Services, PowerBI, Linux, Git, Yii Framework, AngularJS, etc.
By hiring IT specialists from Ukraine, you can be confident that your project will be implemented at the highest level and within established deadlines.
Why Global Companies Prefer IT Developers from Ukraine
Ukraine is among the most sought-after countries for IT outsourcing. Over 100 Fortune 500 companies work with developers from Ukraine, including Amazon and Microsoft. It's not surprising, as there are all the conditions for expanding their development capabilities.
What makes Ukrainian IT specialists desirable candidates for global corporations?
Qualification and experience: Ukrainian IT professionals have high qualifications and extensive experience in software development, web development, cybersecurity, data analysis, and other areas. Many of them have higher education and have undergone training in leading private schools.
English proficiency: Most Ukrainian IT professionals are proficient in English at the Upper Intermediate level or higher, facilitating communication with clients and colleagues abroad.
Competitive cost: The costs for the salaries and services of Ukrainian IT specialists are usually lower than in many Western countries, allowing global companies to save money when hiring.
Insignificant cultural differences: Ukraine has cultural similarities with many Western countries, promoting mutual understanding and effective collaboration.
Convenient time zone: The slight time difference is comfortable for many European companies when working with Ukrainian developers and teams. Even if you are in the USA or Canada, you will have overlapping working hours for important meetings and calls.
The combination of these advantages makes IT developers from Ukraine attractive to global companies.
Challenges in Hiring Ukrainian IT Talent and Solutions
Despite the advantages of hiring IT developers from Ukraine, there are several challenges that every company may face.
We will discuss the most common ones, as well as ways to address them:
Labor market competition: The rapid growth of the IT industry in Ukraine leads to fierce competition for qualified professionals. This challenge can be addressed by offering competitive working conditions, increasing salaries, and providing bonuses and perks.
Lack of experienced specialists: Due to high demand in the market, there may be a shortage of skilled professionals, especially in specific areas. Investing in the training and development of less experienced employees and establishing partnerships with educational institutions can help avoid such situations.
Bureaucratic obstacles: Bureaucratic procedures and tax obligations can complicate hiring Ukrainian specialists. By collaborating with legal firms or HR companies specializing in international employment, you can overcome this problem.
Specifics of remote work: Distributed teams and remote formats have become more popular, but for effective task execution, this approach requires a well-established management and technical infrastructure. To achieve the desired results, establish internal standards for remote work and use modern communication and management tools.
With the right approach and organization of collaboration, you can avoid various unpleasant situations that may arise while hiring and working with Ukrainian IT specialists.
The Future of Ukrainian IT Developers in the Global Market
Due to the ongoing military actions in the country, it is challenging to predict the future development of the IT sector.
There are two scenarios:
In 2024, the Ukrainian IT industry may increase the export of services, but this growth is unlikely to be significant.
The following year may witness the first decline in the export of IT services in Ukraine in the last two decades.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Ukrainian company Lampa Software continues to provide high-quality IT services worldwide. At the core of our success is a team of talented IT specialists ready to achieve exceptional results despite the challenges during wartime.
We take pride in our ability to create innovative solutions, meet customer needs, and raise the quality bar in developing digital products.
Trust our team and gain a reliable partner capable of implementing projects of any complexity within short deadlines.