Ukrainian Defense Companies Plan Mass Workforce Expansion
Ukrainian companies in the defense technology sector are actively seeking new employees, with 100% of surveyed firms ready to hire in the near future. This is confirmed by a study conducted by the Ukrainian Armaments Council in collaboration with CORE Team.
The study included 27 Ukrainian manufacturers specializing in ground robotic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronics, and engineering software. The sample also represents companies in electronic warfare and other related fields. According to the study results, 74% of surveyed companies increased their team sizes by at least 25% over the past year, and almost half grew by more than 50%.
Companies are most actively seeking design engineers, production staff, and electronics engineers. However, the lack of qualified personnel and high competition among companies remain the main barriers to filling vacancies. On average, technical vacancies are filled within one to two months, and only 30% of such vacancies are filled within this period. Despite 89% of companies reviewing salary rates, competitive pay levels remain an issue.
Among new market trends, a shift from rapid growth to structured scaling is noted. Employers need not only engineers but also entire teams of specialists. There is also improved collaboration with the IT sector and mechanical engineering companies, which are the primary sources of personnel.
Salaries in this sector depend on the size of the company, its areas of activity, and market positions, but they are often competitive with other industries, including IT. Practical skills, which resonate with typical IT specialists, are valued.
| Position | % of Companies Hiring |
|---|---|
| Design Engineers | 67% |
| Production Staff and Assemblers | 56% |
| Electronics Engineers, Embedded Systems Engineers | 50% |
| Software Developers | 48% |
| Project and Product Managers | 45% |
