By KYIV. Dec 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The IT industry in January-October 2022 brought $6 billion in export earnings to the Ukrainian economy, which is 9.9% more compared to the same period of the previous year, according to a national study on the state and achievements of the IT industry entitled "Do IT Like Ukraine."
"In particular, such results became possible thanks to the effective implementation of business continuity plans, timely relocation of teams and diversification of development centers in Ukraine and abroad," Executive Director of the IT Ukraine Association Kostiantyn Vasiuk said.
According to researchers, by the end of the year the industry will generate $7.1 billion in exports, which is 2.2% more than in 2021, while before the war it was expected to grow to $8-8.6 billion.
As a result, the share of IT services in GDP is expected to increase from 3.5% to 5.4%, and in the export of services – from 37.8% to 47%.
According to the document, 34.3% of IT companies have successfully adapted to the new realities, and more than 43% expect business growth in 2022.
The biggest challenges for companies are the migration of employees and their families, the relocation of companies, the prohibition of travel of IT specialists abroad, the recruitment of IT specialists, customer retention and risk minimization in working with clients, as well as currency regulation and restrictions imposed by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
In this regard, the approach to work has changed, the study indicates: after the start of the full-scale war, more than 75% of specialists work remotely in 71.5% of companies, although the latest Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have made adjustments to this trend.
As follows from the published data, the number of active IT companies in the labor market fell to 2,000 in November this year from 5,000 in 2021.
According to the document, during the war, the number of IT specialists remained at the level of about 330,000 people this year.
According to the study, some companies planned to open new offices in Ukraine and abroad, some were forced to relocate to safer regions. However, 81.5% of IT companies relocated abroad still plan to return their business to Ukraine, 5.6% of them are already in the process of returning.
According to the study, among the top ten countries for relocation, companies chose Poland, Germany, the United States, Portugal, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, Spain and Canada.
