Ukraine’s labor market after a year and a half of full-scale war: non-standard employment and digitalization

Abstract

The article describes the results of a study of the prevalence of non-standard employment in Ukraine and the relationship between non-standard employment and digitalization in Ukraine. The COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022, have radically affected the labor market and the spread of non-standard employment. A year and a half after the start of the full-scale war, the share of the unemployed has decreased, and some researchers and specialists have already begun to talk about "personnel hunger" in certain areas and industries. However, despite the activation of the labor market, the work of only 30% of Ukrainians can be identified as standard employment. Moreover, there is de facto no return to the standard employment format. Another factor contributing to the spread of non-standard forms of employment is digitalization. Digitalization is often used as a general all-encompassing concept but based on information about the use of digital devices and technologies, three categories can be distinguished, corresponding to three stages of technological development - computerization, Internetization, and digitalization. At the same time, digitization can be defined as the creation of information and analytical platforms that have analytical and predictive functions. The highest level of computerization and Internetization is observed among Ukrainians whose employment can be characterized as non-standard. The highest level of computerization, Internetization, and digitalization are among sole proprietors, respondents who can work remotely and have a flexible schedule. With a fairly high level of use of digital devices and technologies (62% of surveyed Ukrainians use a laptop, tablet or smartphone at work), this level is still lower than the European average. The further spread of Internetization and digitization (information and analytical solutions and platforms) can become one of the drivers of non-standard employment, which, given its magnitude, should be, as A. Kolot notes, completely and irreversibly transformed into a ordinary, traditional social and labor reality.