More than half of Ukrainian IT specialists are looking for jobs after a wave of dismissals

More than half of Ukrainian IT specialists are already looking for a new job or observing job vacancies. In the past year, 17% of IT workers faced dismissal, and the cuts affected even experienced specialists. This is shown by a study by DOU.

Job search in IT has affected more than half of specialists

Among those dismissed, a significant portion consists of seniors, meaning highly qualified specialists with extensive experience. This indicates that difficulties in employment are no longer limited to beginners and those just entering the technology sector.

More than 50% of respondents are in active or passive job search. The first group regularly responds to vacancies and attends interviews, while the second currently has a job but is ready to consider a more advantageous or stable offer.

DOU's data complements the overall picture of competition: in August, there was an average of 11.5 responses per job vacancy in the IT and computer technology category. For certain specializations and entry-level positions, this figure can be significantly higher.

Employee sentiment is also deteriorating. Further complications are expected by 39% of respondents. For specialists, this means a longer job search, more selection stages, and the need to compete not only with colleagues in Ukraine but also with candidates in the global market.

The share of beginners in Ukrainian IT has halved

Juniors and interns now make up only 11% of industry workers. This is half of what it was in 2022 and signals a narrowing of entry into the profession. Companies are hiring more cautiously and prefer those who can quickly integrate into a project.

At the same time, 57% of respondents have more than five years of professional experience. The Ukrainian IT market is becoming more mature, but this structure creates a new problem: the supply of experienced personnel is growing faster than the number of corresponding vacancies.

The most new specialists over the year joined development, analytics, testing, recruiting, and project management. However, the mere fact of the emergence of new employees does not indicate a market recovery, as companies are simultaneously reducing teams and revising expenses.

The situation in IT contrasts with the overall labor shortage in Ukraine. While technology specialists compete for vacancies, 71% of industrial enterprises cannot find qualified workers.

For IT workers, this means that merely having experience no longer guarantees rapid employment. Preference is given to candidates with narrow specialization, strong practical skills, and a readiness to master new tools. In the broader market, re-skilling is becoming increasingly important to maintain competitiveness.