How Ukrainian Developers Manage to Continue Working in the Wartime and Remain as Effective as Before

A lot of things have changed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. However, the IT market has proved to be much more stable than one might think. After a slight decrease in the number of vacancies recorded in March, according to a DOU report, more than 2,500 new IT job offers were already posted in April. This can mean only one thing — programmers in Ukraine continue working, and there are many opportunities for those looking for new jobs. Check how you can support Ukraine.

This article explores the challenges pertaining to the IT labor market and answers popular questions such as: “are Ukrainian developers still working?”, “what developers are still working in Ukraine?”, and why Ukraine, despite the military conflict, is still one of the top destinations for outsourcing software development teams.

Ukrainian Software Development Talent Pool in 2022

Ukraine has always been an attractive outsourcing destination for hiring software development teams, and for a good reason. For starters, it has one of the largest technical talent pools in the world, with 5,000 IT companies and nearly 300,000 dedicated software engineers experienced in different areas.

Furthermore, more than 80% of IT professionals are fluent in English. So, there won’t be communication issues whether you speak to a project manager or somebody from the team.

Now, to the question of “how did war affect Ukrainian developers?” Unfortunately, some IT professionals, in particular those from hard-hit areas such as Kharkiv and Kyiv, had no choice but to relocate abroad because of the war. However, the core developers remain in Ukraine and continue to work for Ukrainian companies.

As for the labor market, in March, there was just a slight decline in hiring. But by April, the number of vacancies for Senior positions increased from 20% (in January) to 25%, and for Middle positions from 15% to 17%. What’s more, most of the vacancies are now related to work abroad, and 62% of offers allow remote work.

What Is the Impact of the War on IT Recruitment in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on IT recruitment in the country. Even though the pool of talent has become larger due to the displacement of so many people, the competition for jobs has become much more fierce, thus putting more pressure on those who are looking to work for companies in Ukraine.

The situation’s made worse by the fact that many US and European countries are reluctant to hire people from war-affected areas, preferring to cooperate only with software developers who have left Ukraine. Overall, in March, out of 1,000 Ukrainian talents, 30% were put on hold. Many were also offered a flexible salary range depending on the number of assignments and completed tasks.

Despite the challenges, there are trends of improvement in the IT sector. According to statistics, by the end of March, over 80% of developers have already returned to full-time work, while 6 months later, 93% could start working on projects like before the war.

How Ukrainian Programmers Continue Working While Being Bombed Every Day

Of course, the first few weeks were tough for everyone, including developers. Many software engineers relocated to the western part of Ukraine, choosing Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk as their destination, while those who remained continued programming in subways.

However, despite the uncertainty and difficult situation in the country overall, software developers from Ukraine are still working. And IT life continues to bloom as it did before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. All of this shows that the IT market is very flexible and can adjust to any conditions, even those as bad as wartime.

Are Ukrainian Developers as Good as They’re Said to Be

While most would agree that there are many top developers all over the world, Ukraine has always been known as a hub of development specialists, making it a juicy destination for recruiting IT talent.

In 2014, according to Gartner, Ukraine was among the top 30 countries in the world for outsourcing, and this year, it is already in the top five. So, what makes Ukrainian developers so good, and what are the reasons for hiring Ukrainian developers in 2022?

First things first, it’s the quality of software development. IT specialists from Ukraine are well-versed in JavaScript, C#, Java, Python, and PHP, as well as Ruby, C++, TypeScript, Go, and Kotlin. They have a broad experience in different areas from web development to game creation. Interestingly, many software companies, including Ubisoft and Gameloft, have offices in Ukraine. Indicating that international companies are eager to work with Ukrainian programmers and make investments in Ukraine to carry on their business.

Aside from the high level of expertise, another strength that makes developers from Ukraine in demand all over the world is their level of English. Most IT professionals are fluent in English and have hands-on experience working with international companies, allowing them to participate in different complicated projects.

Cost is another popular reason that encourages companies from abroad to outsource IT talent from Ukraine. The price for an outsourced developer in the USA may vary from $100 to $850 per hour, depending on the programmer’s level/experience and project, whereas the development cost in Ukraine sits in the $35-$150 hourly rate range. So, it’s easy to see why foreign companies prefer hiring Ukrainians to accomplish big enterprise projects and why now is the right time to outsource your product to Ukraine.

Myths That May Make You Afraid to Outsource Your Product Development to Ukraine

Some companies are worried about whether or not to hire Ukrainian developers during the war. However, programmers in Ukraine continue working and are craving interesting projects. Let’s dispel some of the common myths related to the risks of outsourcing an IT product to Ukraine. To do so, we’ll take a closer look at how Ukrainian developers work during war to perform to the deadlines.

If a Rocket Falls on a Developer, My Project Will End

Ukraine is a large country that covers 600,000+ square kilometers. The fighting is mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern regions, which leaves enough places inside the country for people to live and work safely.

When it comes to software development teams, the majority are provided with safe places equipped with Internet access, bomb shelters, and power generators, thus protecting the team, its work, and excluding the risks of delays due to power outages.

A Developer Will Join the Army, and My Project Will Be Put on Hold

At the moment, there’s no shortage of fighters. Many men who wanted to join the armed forces have already done so. Aside from that, it’s only men with the necessary skills and education accepted into the army. So people without a military background will be the last to be mobilized.

On top of that, most IT companies in Ukraine are constantly hiring new employees. This allows them to work with multiple clients and accompany their projects from the start to the release without delays.

Lack of Motivation Due to the War

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that the IT sector is a driver of the Ukrainian economy. Software developers alone have already donated over $28 million from their personal accounts for civil and military needs to help keep the economy functioning.

Besides, having a job means being able to pay taxes that go to defense too. So motivation is something that unites all the people in the country, not only software developers, and the last thing to be questioned.

The Chaos Won’t Allow For Proper Business Processes Organization

Some businesses suffered more than others with the outbreak of the war, but most of them managed to stay afloat thanks to wartime industry regulations. Nothing has changed in the way police, law, medical, and educational institutions are being maintained, thus allowing Ukrainian developers to continue working in relative safety.

What’s more important, Ukrainian people have adapted to wartime conditions. Albeit quite challenging, they live their lives just as before the war, doing business and even relaxing after work.

Average Salaries for Software Developers in Ukraine

The average salaries for software developers in Ukraine have changed with the outbreak of the war. At first, there was a noticeable decrease. However, the fact that many programmers have left the country has also created a need for software engineers. Leading to a higher demand for IT specialists and resulting in an increase in the average salaries for skilled IT talent.

Now the average salaries remain at the same point as they were before the war. Here’s a quick overview of the average salaries for IT programmers in Ukraine, depending on their level, technologies, and expertise.

How to Choose a Reliable Company Where You Can Hire a Developer From Ukraine

When choosing a company to hire for IT programming from Ukraine, it’s important to consider a few things.

First things first, it’s the size of the company. To ensure that your project won’t be put on hold just because there are not enough developers within the team. You should stick with a company that has a good base of IT specialists with the skills and expertise you need.

Secondly, it’s the company’s reputation. Take your time to go through the testimonials of clients who have worked with the company before. A quick review of what past clients think of the quality of the service will give you an idea of whether the company you chose is reliable enough to hire for outsourcing.

The price is another thing to consider. You want the cost to be affordable, but not so cheap that you’re getting a developer that doesn’t have the expertise you need.

Furthermore, investigate the company’s communication abilities. It’s not necessary for all team members to speak English. However, it is important to make sure they have communication channels to collaborate and are easy to get in touch with when you need feedback.

Last but not least, consider the company’s location. While you might not want to travel to Ukraine just now, wars don’t last forever. So it’s best to choose a location that will be convenient for you to travel to later on.

Consider Lunka.tech Your Partner

Software developers are the main merit of our company. We pride ourselves on having a large number of IT professionals with extensive experience in various areas of software development. So we can help businesses bring the boldest ideas to life.

Our specialists are versed in all of the latest technologies, including .NET, React.js, React Native, Python, Firebase, Swift, and Django. We have successfully delivered on both short- and long-term projects for small, medium, and large enterprise companies. If you want to see what the company has already achieved, you can take a look at our cases.

We know that many foreign companies are afraid to outsource to developers from Ukraine due to time zone differences, wartime instability, and the uncertainty that the developer you hire can complete the project.

However, at Lunka.tech, we put our best effort into providing our team with safe, comfortable conditions. We strive to ensure they can concentrate on work and respond quickly to any client queries. We also are constantly adding to our team to have the best people on board.

You may also check how you can support Ukraine here.

So, if you're thinking about how to invest during the war and bring your business project to life, hiring developers from Lunka.tech is your best decision. You will not only obtain a team of highly skilled software developers but also help towards supporting the economy of our country. Make sure to get in touch with us to discuss your ideas and let’s get the ball rolling!

Final Thoughts

Even though the war has had a negative impact on almost all industries, Ukrainian programmers continue working while being bombed. The demand for IT talent is just as high as it was before the war. Not only that but they also remain highly motivated and can deliver projects according to timelines with no extra charges for time lost due to sirens.

So, if you’re looking for outsource developers to extend your in-house team or in search of an offshore team to take care of your project from start to finish, our team of top IT software engineers at Lunka.tech is your best destination!

FAQ

Are Ukrainian developers still working during the war?

Despite the war, software developers from Ukraine are still working. As evident, the IT market appears to be much more stable than most other industries. Some developers relocated abroad while those who lived in hard-hit areas moved to safer regions where they can live and work in safety. Regardless of the circumstances, Ukrainian programmers continue working and are still known to be one of the best providers of IT services in the region.

How many software developers are in Ukraine?

At the time of writing this article, there were approximately 300,000 software engineers in Ukraine. However, this number constantly grows. The younger generation is interested in tech education, and more than 15,000 IT specialists graduate from universities every year. This shows that the demand for software developer roles remains just as high as it was a few years ago.

How does war affect Ukrainian developers?

Fortunately, the tech industry was among the least negatively affected by the impact of the war. Ukrainian programmers continue working during the war, and the core developers remain in Ukraine, thanks to the enormous support of vendors providing their teams with safe locations. The average salaries for software developers haven’t changed much, either. There was only a slight drop in early March, but by mid-April, most developers were already able to return to full-time hours at pre-war rates.

What are the risks of outsourcing Ukrainian developers now?

Perhaps, the biggest concern for outsourcing IT specialists from Ukraine is not knowing if a software developer you hire will be able to complete the project. However, Ukrainian developers are working in wartime. Most companies provided their teams with safe locations equipped with bomber shelters where they have access to heating and electricity. There are no issues with the Internet, either. In fact, when the war started, the Ministry of Digital Transformation in Ukraine did everything to secure access to Starlink terminals. Ensuring reliable, fast, and unlimited Internet to places that suffer from a poor connection.

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