Ukrainian Tech Talent Demand Q2 2023: Android, iOS, QA Python, Java

In many ways, Q2 2023 saw further development of tech talent demand trends observed during Q4 2022 and Q1 2023. But while Q1 2023 showcased the first signs of said trends, Q2 2023 provided a full display of changes regarding talent demand. 

During Q2 2023, the Talando team did extensive Ukrainian Tech Segment Market Research.

Our previous article outlined Ukrainian Tech Talent salary expectations. This article breaks down the Ukrainian Tech Segment Talent Demand during Q2 2023.  

• If you want to purchase the complete Q2 2023 Salary Survey – drop us a line.

Tech Talent Demand Q2 2023 Trends Explained

Android / iOS

The demand for Android and iOS tech talent has been steadily decreasing during Q2 2023. There are several reasons for that:

• The growing recession in USA and EU takes its toll on the consumer segment. Because of that, people are cutting their spending on unnecessary or inessential paid applications. 

Interestingly, this trend doesn’t really affect gaming apps due to the peculiarities of that particular audience segment.

• The boilerplate-based application segment has been heavily transformed with the implementation of AI tools that can significantly decrease development costs.

In addition, the Ukrainian internal market for paid apps is too small to serve as solid grounds for business operations. Because of that, Ukrainian companies traditionally focused their efforts on foreign markets currently affected by the recession.

Companies that manage to establish themselves on the market stay afloat by hanging on their built-in audience and brand loyalty. However, emerging companies must figure out new business models for this transforming environment.

• These factors result in a sizeable salary decrease for Android and iOS specialists. There’s a 15-20% salary decrease for new positions.  

QA

Quality assurance is one of the evergreen positions in the Ukrainian Tech Segment. There’s always a demand for QA because everyone wants their product to function correctly. 

With that said, the QA profession also has one of the lowest entry barriers in the tech segment. Because of that, QA specialists are constantly coming in, hoping to get by. And there are a lot of them. 

As a result, QA salaries have been traditionally all over the place. 

• High-profile lead-level talent can get a high salary and would be sought-after specialists anywhere. 
• But things aren’t the same in the case with junior and even lower middle talent.

Here’s how QA salaries turn out during Q2 2023:

• Minimal salary ranges for junior and middle levels decrease by 10-15% from Q1 to Q2 2023. 
• Due to market oversaturation, getting a significant raise on a new job is mostly unrealistic for middle talent.
• At the same time, senior-level salaries are more or less stuck on Q1 2023 levels with occasional 10-20% spikes for specific tech stacks with no consistent pattern. 
• That said, there has been a gradual salary decrease for senior QA talent since Q3 2022. 

Overall, the market is oversaturated with QA talent, and companies don’t feel bad about laying them off if they need to cut spending. 

In the case of game development, the demand for QA remains strong, but salaries remain low, and employee turnover stays high.

Python

Python is the other always-in-demand position in the Ukrainian Tech Segment. It is also one of the most popular subjects in the IT starter courses. As a result, there is a developing trend of talent oversaturation. 

• While it mainly affects junior and somewhat middle talent, within five years, this will also significantly affect senior and lead levels.

Python talent demand currently revolves around artificial intelligence, data analysis, data visualization, fintech, and IoT niches. 

Salary-wise, fintech companies can provide the highest salaries for Python talent. The difference between a fintech Python and outsourcing Python developer salary can reach up to 20% as late Q2 2023.

Hyped-up artificial intelligence startups also pay big money to hire high-profile Python talent. In some cases, companies pay 20-30% higher than the market average. 

However, in this case, candidates often have concerns regarding the project’s long-term future and their work security. Because of that, many candidates hesitate to join such projects regardless of big money offers. 

At the same time, market oversaturation with junior talent caused a crawling minimal salary level decrease. 

• Q1 to Q2 2023 minimal salary level decrease for junior and middle talent has been 10%. Maximum salary levels remain more or less at Q1 levels.
• Senior and lead talent are steadily in demand. Because of that, there was no significant salary range up and downs during Q2. 
• There were several niche-specific demand spikes related to AI tech, but they still need to develop into a full-fledged trend.

Java

Java talent pool often seems confusing. Unlike any other technology segment, it doesn’t seem to be affected by talent oversaturation or talent scarcity. 

In that regard, the Java segment is easier to study than others.

• Java developer salary dynamics haven’t changed drastically from Q1 2023. 
• Junior-level positions experience a gradual minimal decrease (10% from Q1 2023) and a slight maximum increase (4% from Q1 to Q2).
• Depending on the niche, middle-level salaries remain at Q1 levels. Outsourcing middle Java experienced a 15% decrease, while fintech middle Java had a 5% increase. 
• Senior-level talent got a 15% minimal level decrease and a 9% maximum salary increase. 

Overall, fintech and eCommerce are major demand drivers for Java developers. In the case of fintech, some companies can afford 20% higher salaries than the market average.