Ukraine is home to more than 44 million people and is a country with a rich past steeped in artistic, military, and religious history. Formerly a member of the USSR, Ukraine is now an independent nation (however the recent annexation of Crimea has embroiled it in a territorial dispute with neighbouring Russia). The nation has produced some of the world’s greatest sporting superstars, and counts boxing world heavyweight title holders Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko as its prized exports.

The country ranks as the world’s 4th largest supplier of IT professionals, behind the US, India, and Russia, and this is largely due to it’s growing IT market which is helping to place Ukraine as a leader in world services.

Ukraine’s history as a member of the USSR has led to both Ukrainian and Russian being the dominant languages, however English is widely spoken by the country’s freelancers, and many Ukrainians are learning the language in order to improve their international employment prospects. A good understanding of English also helps to account for the country’s translation services, which make up 13% of its freelance output.

The country has a rich scientific and engineering history, and is the creator of the world’s heaviest aircraft, the An-225 Mriya (designed to airlift space shuttles and rocket boosters), and was at the forefront of rocket and spaceflight development during its time in the Soviet Union and during the Space Race.

Top Skills

Ukraine is the 4th most educated nation in the Europe, with 70% of adult Ukrainians possessing secondary or higher education, this is particularly impressive, given that Ukraine ranks 7th in terms of population size. This unusually high figure is largely due to constitutionally mandated free, and compulsory, education. Because of the USSR’s focus on total education, Ukraine benefits from a 99.4% literacy rate among its population.

The country also benefits from over 800 higher education institutions, which have produced 654,700 graduates. Many of the country’s leading academic institutions are state funded, and offer free, or subsidised, higher education.

A 2014 study discovered that 55.7% of Ukrainian freelancers have a master’s or specialist's degree, and the majority of Ukraine’s remote workers work in copywriting, journalism, design, or website support. 40% of those surveyed work only as freelancers, while 23.5% supplement their mainstream work with freelance projects.

Freelance work is becoming increasingly popular in Ukraine, as the country’s economy continues to experience troubles, and local job opportunities become less rich. This means that talented freelancers are increasingly looking online for complex projects that can help them to utilise their education and skills and increase their earning potential.

Income Range

The International Labour Organisation puts Ukraine’s average monthly income at $686, far higher than nations like the Philippines or Pakistan, but significantly lower than the US, UK, and Russia.

The average salary for a senior software developer is approximately $2,400-$3,100 per month in Kiev, with salaries lower in other cities.

Currency

The Ukrainian currency is the Ukrainian Hryvnia.

The current exchange rate is 1USD = 25.12 UAH

Currency Exchange

Currency transfers can be made through online services like PayPal or Transferwise