Who is shaping Ukraine's AI industry — study
A study by AI House, supported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, outlines the composition of Ukrainian AI specialists: their numbers, experience, education, employment geography, and principal needs through 2030.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
December 10, 2025 · 1 min read
AI House, with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, conducted a study that showed who works in Ukraine's artificial intelligence sector, where these specialists find jobs, what experience they have and how they assess the prospects for the industry's development in the country.
Main figures and trends
The data obtained are planned to be used to form an AI development strategy through 2030. Over the past two years the number of specialists in this field has grown by 17% and reached approximately 6,100 people. More than half of respondents have at least three years of practical experience. Among those who recently entered the field, 17% are women.
About 20% of Ukrainian AI specialists work abroad; 3% left during the past year.
Employment sectors and needs
53% of respondents have a formal university education, while 47% acquired their skills independently. One in three specialists moved into AI from a developer role. 17% work on solutions in the DefenseTech area.
The largest share of specialists are employed by product companies; others work in large businesses, including in agriculture, finance and industry. In the public sector the field is only gaining momentum. 12% of respondents already hold an R&D degree, while others are currently obtaining one.
Half of specialists believe in Ukraine's potential to become a leader in AI, but point to the need to develop the research base, create Ukrainian-language datasets and strengthen mathematical training.
The report also notes active team expansion at domestic drone manufacturers and startups. Meanwhile, the average salary of IT managers in summer 2025 slightly decreased — from about $3,150 to approximately $3,000 over the last six months.
