The Ukrainian freelance market is rapidly expanding: the number of specialists working in this format has increased by more than 80% in six months. The main reasons are war, digitalization, and changes in approaches to work.
The Ukrainian freelance market is rapidly expanding: the number of specialists working in this format has increased by more than 80% in six months. The main reasons are war, digitalization, and changes in approaches to work.
According to Freelancehunt, in the first half of 2025, the share of Ukrainians who chose freelancing increased by 83,6% compared to the same period in 2024. Over 54% of respondents explained the transition by military circumstances, loss of permanent employment, and the desire for greater flexibility.
A Rakuten Viber survey confirmed this trend: 74% of Ukrainians see advantages in freelancing, including freedom and independence, and only 5% consider it unstable. 26% of respondents already have experience with remote work, and another 30% plan to try it.
The most active market participants are young people aged 18–29 — almost 45% of all freelancers. They are actively implementing artificial intelligence tools: 69% already use AI for work, and 21,9% do it regularly. In the world, the buzzers are also ahead of the older generations — according to Upwork, 61% of young American freelancers work with generative AI.
Among the most promising areas for Ukrainian freelancers are machine learning, AI video production, and AI consulting. According to experts, in the coming years, up to 80% of global video production will be created or processed using AI, which opens up new niches for remote specialists.
According to Fiverr, 70% of Zoomers in the world are already working or planning to work freelance. In Ukraine, growth is supported by the development of technological infrastructure, which allows local specialists to compete in the global market.
We also previously wrote about how a developer told how he lost $200 on a freelance exchange due to his own carelessness. Front-end developer Alexey Ustinov told how, while working on an order with Upwork, he did not receive the promised funds due to strange requirements, either from the freelance platform or from the client.
