A recent study reveals that nearly half of IT professionals in Ukraine and abroad are compelled to lower their salary expectations during their job searches. The survey indicates that finding a new position in the IT sector has become increasingly difficult, with the average job search lasting between three to four months. Specifically, the median duration for job seekers is approximately 11 weeks, although in Ukraine, this figure rises to 15 weeks and abroad to 18 weeks.
The average search time has seen only slight changes since 2025, remaining stable in Ukraine while increasing overseas from 16 weeks last year to 18 weeks this year. Certain roles face more significant challenges; for instance, Artists and Animators, along with Leadership positions, report an average search time of 21 weeks, nearly double the typical duration.
Conversely, roles in AI, Machine Learning, Data Engineering, and other technical fields tend to secure positions more quickly, averaging around five weeks for job searches. In international markets, analysts find work in a median of five weeks while DevOps professionals take about eight weeks.
The trend of lowering salary expectations is consistent with previous years, with 44% of job seekers in Ukraine and 43% abroad admitting to adjusting their expectations. The tendency to reduce salary demands is prevalent across various job titles, from interns to senior professionals, with HR and design specialists seeing the highest rates of adjustment.
When choosing a new employer, financial compensation is the top priority for 71% of respondents, followed by the opportunity for remote work (51%) and engaging tasks with prospects for career growth (41%). However, the scarcity of remote positions is hindering the hiring process, as 57% of job seekers express that remote work is essential to them.
The majority of IT professionals perceive the current job market as challenging, with 68% in Ukraine and 73% abroad acknowledging the difficulties in finding new opportunities. Key issues include a lack of responses from companies, fierce competition, a limited number of vacancies, and long hiring processes. Those in fields like Game/Level design and UI/UX are particularly vocal about their struggles in finding work.
This ongoing trend sheds light on the current state of the job market, indicating that candidates must adapt to competitive conditions and may need to make compromises on salary to secure employment. As businesses navigate these challenges, it will be crucial for them to remain competitive in attracting talent while addressing the growing concerns of job seekers.
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