The market for the services of home craftsmen has undergone significant changes due to the impact of the war and migration processes. Usually, plumbing repair services, electrical equipment, and performing small household tasks remain popular among households. Among the people, such specialists are often called “man by the hour”.
The hostilities that began in 2014 and the increase in labor migration after the introduction of the visa-free regime from the EU in 2017 led to a gradual reduction in the number of specialists in this segment. With the outbreak of full-scale war in 2022, the situation became even more complicated, causing a significant shortage of skilled craftsmen.
The decrease in supply on the market had a number of consequences. First, due to low competition, the quality of the provided services has deteriorated. Secondly, the cost of the work of craftsmen has increased, since the demand for their services is still high. In such conditions, consumers often have to choose between a long search for a qualified specialist or turning to less experienced performers.
The issue of technical maintenance in small towns and rural areas, where the number of craftsmen has always been limited, also arises acutely. At the same time, the increase in demand for the services of craftsmen has contributed to the emergence of new specialists who have mastered the basic skills of repair, but cannot always provide a high level of work performance. The situation has also forced some companies to more actively implement digital platforms for finding specialists, which partially helps to solve the problem. However, a comprehensive solution to the shortage of craftsmen is not yet visible, which remains a challenge for both the market and consumers.
How did the situation on the services market change?
Infographic: IA “FACT”
Our infographic shows the dynamics of demand for the services of home craftsmen through the OLX and Kabanchik.ua platforms.
2022 was a turning point: after the start of a full-scale invasion, the demand for the services of home craftsmen fell sharply. OLX registered a decrease of 35%, and Kabanchik.ua lost even more – 43%. The reasons are obvious: the war disrupted the usual way of life, forced many to leave their homes, and household repairs took a back seat.
However, already in 2023, the market began to recover. On OLX, demand remained reduced by only 19% compared to pre-war 2021, while Kabanchik.ua remained at a slightly lower level: -30%. By 2024, the situation stabilized: OLX stopped at the -17% mark, and Kabanchik.ua continues to feel the effects of the changes, keeping the fall at -30%.
Interestingly, different platforms recovered at different speeds. OLX, as a universal platform for various services, has shown greater flexibility. On the other hand, Kabanchik.ua, which is narrowly specialized in household tasks, has a harder time surviving the crisis.
These numbers show not only challenges, but also new opportunities for adaptation. The war changed life, but the need for specialists remained – and now the market is learning to respond to these new challenges.
What masters are missing?
The Kabanchik.ua platform assesses the shortage of specialists using the Offer Rate indicator, which reflects how actively specialists submit offers for tasks. If this indicator exceeds 90%, this indicates a sufficient number of specialists on the market. A decrease in this level, on the contrary, signals a shortage of personnel.
The shortage of specialists is most noticeable in the categories “Domestic master”, “Repair” and “Household services”, while it is most felt in highly specialized areas. A particularly difficult situation is observed with the involvement of handymen, welders, tilers, plasterers, furniture restorers, as well as nannies, sitters and tailors.
“The greatest shortage of personnel is observed in categories where young and physically strong men are needed, for example, in construction, finishing works, repair of appliances or installation of doors,” – notes Nadiya Panchenko, Marketing Director of Kabanchik.ua website.
For data Maria Abdullina, the head of OLX’s “Work and Services” department, repairs technicians are the least likely to submit their proposals. On the OLX platform, in the Construction and Repair category, there are an average of 25 reviews per task. In “Household services” this indicator reaches 26 reviews, while in the category “Repair and maintenance of equipment” there are as many as 41 reviews, which indicates a lack of specialists in this area.
The most popular requests on the Kabanchik.ua platform.
Infographic: IA “FACT”
As you can see, some construction and repair work is underway prevail, but the demand for services related to appliances and small conveniences in everyday life is also significant.
Requests such as “dig a cube of earth”, “pouring paving around the house”, “puttying the walls for painting”, “laying tiles on the stairs” are classic tasks related to the repair, construction or furnishing of a home. And this category is obviously leading. “Battery replacement for AirPods”, “gasoline delivery”, “refilling the refrigerator with freon” – consumers are also actively looking for craftsmen for technical trifles and modern gadgets.
What types of construction workers are looking for on OLX?
Infographic: IA “FACT”
There is a great demand for complex solutions for repairs testifiesthat people appreciate the convenience of the all-inclusive format and are ready to entrust the work to specialists. Planning and design – the demand for this category shows that customers began to pay more attention to planning and aesthetics. Beautiful and functional interiors are important to consumers despite war and economic turmoil. Before repair or construction, it is often necessary to prepare the space – this explains the popularity of the “Dismantling works” category. Requests for “welding work” (16), “well drilling” (3), “ventilation” (3) are less frequent, but indicate specific needs.
Therefore, most requests are focused on complex and basic construction and repair services, while more highly specialized tasks enjoy a smaller but stable demand.
So, the market of home craftsmen services in Ukraine is adapting to new realities, despite all the challenges caused by war, migration and economic difficulties. The demand for repair and household services remains consistently high, and the shortage of qualified specialists opens up new opportunities for the development of the industry. In these conditions, innovative platforms and the desire to improve the quality of service can become key factors in overcoming the crisis.
