Leaders and outsiders: what professions will Ukrainian applicants choose in 2024? (infographic)

The 2024 entry campaign is coming to an end. Today, applicants receive recommendations for a contract. It’s time to sum up and draw conclusions about this year’s professional choices of young people.

IA “FACT” has already done so analytics regarding the regional cut of applicant preferences.

Now we offer you to review the professional trends of 2024, which reflect applicants’ perceptions of prestigious professions.

“Psychology” became the leader of the applicants’ choice, which in the current conditions is quite understandable and indicative. In the context of a war that has been ongoing since 2014 and has escalated with a full-scale invasion in 2022, the issue of mental health has become extremely important. Injuries, stress, losses, resettlement, adaptation to new living conditions – Ukrainian society faced unprecedented challenges. Therefore, the need for qualified psychologists has increased both at the level of individual counseling and in the context of work with military personnel, displaced persons and other population groups affected by the war. Awareness of the importance of mental health among broad segments of the population has also increased. Many people aspire to become a “psychologist for themselves”, which causes an increase in interest in this profession. It is noteworthy that schoolchildren who participate in the MA also usually choose psychology to conduct scientific research.

In second place is ubiquitous management. For many young people, this specialty is an opportunity to acquire universal skills that can be applied in various fields – from the commercial sector to public administration. In difficult times of increased demand for effective management, the choice of management becomes a strategic step for those who want to be in demand on the labor market and play an active role in the development of the country.

The choice of the “Philology” specialty, which took the third place in terms of the number of submitted applications, testifies to the persistent interest of applicants in linguistics, literature and culture. Many people understand that in the conditions of globalization and the expansion of international relations, knowledge of languages ​​becomes an important tool for building a career in many fields – from translation and journalism to diplomacy and international business. It is good that Ukrainian applicants understand that knowing several languages ​​opens up more opportunities for them both on the domestic and global labor markets.

The specialty “Law”, which took fourth place in terms of the number of submitted applications, remains one of the most popular among Ukrainian applicants, despite a certain decrease in interest in it compared to last year (minus 17 thousand applications). Legal education opens up a wide range of opportunities for building a career in various fields – from the judicial system and advocacy to public administration and private business. In Ukraine, there is a growing demand for specialists capable of solving complex legal issues, in particular in the fields of international law, corporate law, human rights and intellectual property protection.

“Computer Science” (fifth step) remains one of the most prestigious and most sought after among Ukrainian applicants. The decrease in the number of submitted applications (minus 10,000 applications) this year may be due to the high requirements for admission to this specialty, as well as the desire of some applicants to choose narrower or specific IT fields. However, “Computer Science” remains an attractive choice for those who seek to gain relevant knowledge and build a career in a dynamic and promising field.

Applicants who choose marketing, a specialty that is in constant demand on the labor market, are probably right. Businesses that continue to operate despite the war, or new businesses that are opening, need effective promotion of their goods and services, which makes marketing one of the key areas today. The same can be said about economics – it is a universal education with broad knowledge and skills.

Interest in cyber security also continues to grow. Cybersecurity offers a wide range of career opportunities, including analytics, risk management, developing secure software products, and even ethical hacking. This makes this specialty attractive to those seeking a dynamic and highly paid career. The war in Ukraine has brought significant cyber threats to both public and private institutions. This has increased interest in cyber security, as the protection of information systems and data has become critical. Applicants who choose this field see in the future the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the security of the country.

The choice of the specialty “Secondary education” is most likely socially motivated. This is a choice based on the call of the heart, because the state does not support teaching properly, so those who seek to “sow intelligent, good, eternal things” follow this path.

Medicine remains a stable industry with a high demand for qualified specialists, which makes this specialty attractive to many applicants. This also affects the popularity of the specialty among entrants.

Journalism continues to be popular with entrants as many young people are interested in media, communications and reporting on important social events. In particular, interest in digital media, blogs, and social networks is growing. Many people want to be influential and knowledgeable, to have the opportunity to realize themselves in creativity. The versatility of journalism provides the diverse needs of creative individuals.

Infographic: IA “FACT”

Among applicants, there are also specialties that are not very popular. For example, Shipbuilding, Public Health, Religious Studies, and Information Security Management have significantly fewer applications than other majors. These specialties are often outsiders in the ranking of applicants’ choices, which may be due to the low awareness of applicants about them or their lower attractiveness compared to more popular areas.

There are also rather alarming trends in the selection of applicants.

Despite the growing demand for specialists in the field of renewable energy sources, the number of entrants choosing these specialties remains extremely low. This could adversely affect our ability to implement innovative solutions to reduce emissions and preserve the environment.

Despite the support of the state, the specialty “Railway transport” is not in demand. At the same time, it is critically important for the national economy, ensuring the transportation of goods and people throughout the country. A low level of interest in this specialty can affect the efficiency and development of our transport infrastructure.

Therefore, this year’s professional choice of young people reflects both the current needs of society and certain problems in the training of specialists for key sectors of the economy.