The freelance market in Ukraine is showing impressive growth: in the first half of 2025, the number of Ukrainians who chose this work format increased by 83.6% compared to the same period in 2024.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for the Popularity of Freelancing Among Ukrainians
According to research, more than half (54.5%) of freelancers switched to this work style due to wartime circumstances, loss of stable employment, desire for flexibility, and financial stability. A survey by Rakuten Viber indicates that 74% of Ukrainians view freelancing as an opportunity to gain freedom and independence, with only 5% having a negative attitude towards this work model. It is worth noting that 26% already have experience in freelancing, of which only 4% reported dissatisfaction. Another 30% of Ukrainians plan to try their hand at this direction in the near future.
“According to the research results, 54.5% of freelancers started working in this format specifically due to wartime circumstances. Job loss, uncertainty, and the desire for flexibility and financial stability became the main motivators.”
Youth and Technology: The Driving Force of New Freelancing
The younger generation of Ukrainians is actively integrating into freelancing. About 45% of freelancers are young people aged 18 to 29, who quickly master modern digital tools and implement them into their work processes. In particular, 69% of Ukrainian freelancers are already using AI-based solutions: 21.9% apply them regularly, another 47.8% do so periodically, while 12.6% currently do not plan to implement AI into their work.
Global trends also highlight this trend: in the USA, 61% of Gen Z freelancers actively work with generative AI — significantly more than their peers in the corporate sector. In 2024, the share of Generation Z members involved in freelancing in the USA was 52%, while among millennials it was 44%. According to Fiverr estimates, 70% of Gen Z worldwide have already chosen freelancing or plan to do so in the near future. Ukraine is experiencing a similar dynamic: more and more young professionals are choosing freelancing as a platform for an international career.
Promising Directions and Income Levels
Among the most promising areas of freelancing are Machine Learning (ML) – data processing, creation of AI models, and process automation, AI Video Production – it is expected that up to 80% of the video production market will be created or processed using AI in the coming years, and AI Consulting – the implementation of chatbots, language models, and computer vision in business processes.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, over 400,000 Ukrainians have registered on the Freelancehunt service. In January 2025, the number of new freelancers increased by 60% compared to the same period in 2024. An analysis of income levels shows that among translators and copywriters, 64.7% earn up to $500, 46.1% of designers have an income of over $500, while among marketers, 26.3% earn over $3000 per month.