Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

The Belorussian IT sector as a panacea for the shortage of specialists in the labour market of selected post-communist countries

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15678/IER.2023.0901.06

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the article is to analyse the status of IT specialists in the labour market of selected post-communist countries: Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine.

Research Design & Methods: The article used own calculations made based on available statistical data from the World Bank, European Commission, Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, Belstat, Ukrstat, and UNCTAD. A descriptive method was also used, as well as deductive reasoning, studying the literature of the subject, and analysis of source texts.

Findings: The article demonstrates that despite the difficult socio-political situation and the deteriorating condition of the Belorussian economy, IT specialists from this country can be a panacea for staff shortages in the labour market in neighbouring countries, i.e. in Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltic States. The article also analyses the offers of the above-mentioned post-communist countries that received migrants from the Belorussian IT industry.

Implications & Recommendations: We show that Poland has significant economic potential (and economic ties) in terms of incentives for employees of the Belarusian IT sector. The potential of the rest of the studied countries is in total comparable to that of the Republic of Poland – compared with Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine. Relocation of Belarusian IT specialists may contribute to the improvement of competitiveness and innovation of the host countries.

Contribution & Value Added: The interest of the countries neighbouring Belarus in the process of encouraging Belarusian IT specialists to emigrate from their homeland has been confirmed and there are very few studies on similar topics in the literature. Moreover, the conclusions drawn from the conclusions of the study may serve as recommendations for specific actions at the government level.

Keywords

IT sector, post-communist countries, Belarus, Poland, competitiveness and innovation

(PDF) Save

Author Biography

Zofia Gródek-Szostak

PhD. Assistant professor in the Department of Economics and Business of the Krakow University of Economics. Author of papers on public financing of investments and R&D works and on implementing innovative solutions in enterprises.

Karolina Kotulewicz-Wisińska

PhD. Assistant professor in the Department of Political Science of the Krakow University of Economics. Autor of papers on political, economic and social transformation of the former USSR states, relations between the European Union and the CIS states.

Rafał Lisiakiewicz

PhD. Assistant Professor at the Krakow University of Economics. Research interests include Russia’s foreign policy, Russia’s economic relations with foreign partners, and Polish-Russian relations. His research interests also lie at the intersection of International Political Economy and Security. Author of several dozen publications on these areas.

Wojciech Zysk

Associate Professor (Prof. UEK) of the Krakow University of Economics (Poland). Habilitated Doctor of Economics (DEcon), PhD in foreign trade; specialist in FDI, Fair Trade, SRI, CSR, international entrepreneurship, e-commerce, foreign trade, European business; author and co-author of several books and over 90 scientific articles.


References

  1. Aprel. (2021). Aprel’: uzhe uyekhali 15%. Tret’ ne sobirayetsya nazad (4x po sravneniyu s yanvarem), [April: 15% have already left. A third is not going back (4x compared to January)]. Retrieved from https://dev.by/news/relocate-april-2021 on June 10, 2021.
  2. Baltic-course. (2020). Lithuania invites qualified specialists, companies from Belarus. Retrieved from http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_states_cis/?doc=158826/ on September 10, 2020.
  3. Bayulgen, O. (2010). Foreign Investment and Political Regimes: The Oil Sector in Azerbaijan, Russia, and Norway. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  4. Belarus. (2021). IT v Belarusi, [IT in Belarus]. Retrieved from www.belarus.by/ru/business/doing-business/it-belarus/ on June 10, 2021.
  5. Belarustoukraine. (2021). Instruktsiya: kak belorusskim IT-spetsialistam pereyekhat’ v Ukrainu, [Instructions: how Belarusian IT specialists move to Ukraine]. Retrieved from https://belarustoukraine.com on June 10, 2021.
  6. Belinfund. (2021). Belorusskiy innovatsionnyy Fond, Vauchery i granty, 2021. [Belarusian Innovation Fund, Vouchers and grants, 2021]. Retrieved from http://belinfund.by/deyatelnost/vauchery-i-granty on January 10, 2021.
  7. Belstat. (2020). Belarus’ v tsifrakh, [Belarus in facts]. Retrieved from www.belstat.gov.by/ofitsialnaya-statistika/publications/izdania/public_compilation/index_16711/ on August 10, 2020.
  8. Belstat. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.belstat.gov.by/ofitsialnaya-statistika/makroekonomika-i-okruzhayushchaya-sreda/informatsionno-telekommunikatsionnye-tekhnologii/ on January 21, 2021.
  9. Berger, T., & Frey, C.B. (2016). Digitalisation, Jobs and Convergence in Europe: Strategies for Closing the Skills Gap. Oxford: Oxford Martin School.
  10. Blanchard, J-M. F., & Ripsman, N.M. (2008). A Political Theory of Economic Statecraft, Foreign Policy Analysis, 4(4), 376.
  11. Brynjolfsson, E., & Hitt, L.M. (2000). Beyond computation: information technology, organizational transformation and business performance. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 14(4), 23-48.
  12. CEDEFOP. (2018). Insights into skill shortages and skill mismatch, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
  13. Consilium. (2021a). Restrictive measures following the 2020 Belarus presidential elections. Retrieved from www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions/restrictive-measures-following-the-2020-belarus-presidential-elections/ on June 10, 2021.
  14. Consilium. (2021b). EU relations with Belarus. Retrieved from www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eastern-partnership/belarus/ on June 12, 2021.
  15. Datawrapper. (2021). Kakoye napravleniye vasha kompaniya rassmatrivayet dlya relokeyta, [What direction is your company considering for relocation?]. Retrieved from www.datawrapper.de/_/rFVaP/ on June 10, 2021.
  16. Doing Business. (2019). Retrieved from www.doingbusiness.org/en/reports/global-reports/doing-business-2019/on June 11, 2021.
  17. Doing Business. (2020). Retrieved from www.doingbusiness.org/en/reports/global-reports/doing-business-2020/ on June 11, 2021.
  18. Doing Business. (2020). Retrieved from www.doingbusiness.org/en/reports/global-reports/doing-business-2020/on June 11, 2021.
  19. Dolan, S., Makarevich, A., & Kawamura, K.M. (2015). Are you-and your company-prepared for the future of work in Tomorrowland?. European Business Review, 4-12.
  20. EASE. (2021). Yevropeysʹka Asotsiatsiya Prohramnoyi Inzheneriyi, [European Association of Software Engineering]. Retrieved from https://it-ease.com/uk/ on June 10, 2021.
  21. eu4business. (2021). Retrieved from www.eu4business.eu on January 10, 2021.
  22. Euronews. (2020). Minsk’s Hi-Tech Park: a symbol of growing inequality in Lukashenko’s Belarus. Retrieved from www.euronews.com/2020/08/07/minsk-s-hi-tech-park-a-symbol-of-growing-inequality-in-lukashenko-s-belarus on August 10, 2020.
  23. European Commission. (2016). Working together to strengthen human capital, employability and competitiveness, COM/2016/0381 final, Bruksela.
  24. European Commission. (2021). Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/ on January 26, 2021.
  25. European Commission. (2021). Europe’s Digital Decade: digital targets for 2030. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fitdigital-age/europes-digital-decade-digital-targets-2030_en on October 12, 2021.
  26. European Parliament. (2021). #FreeRomanProtasevich: EU calls for release of Belarus journalist. Retrieved from www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20210527STO04907/freeromanprotasevich-eu-calls-for-release-of-journalist/on June 10, 2021.
  27. Everlegal. (2021). Prezydent Ukrayiny vydav ukaz dlya zaluchennya IT-fakhivtsiv z Bilorusi, [The President of Ukraine issued a decree to attract IT specialists from Belarus]. Retrieved from https://everlegal.ua/prezydent-ukrayiny-vydav-ukaz-dlya-zaluchennya-it-fakhivtsiv-z-bilorusi/ on June 10, 2021.
  28. Fernández-Portillo, A., Almodóvar-González, M., & Hernández-Mogollón, R. (2020). Impact of ICT development on economic growth. A study of OECD European union countries. Technology in Society, 63, 101420.
  29. Gallie, D. (1991). Patterns of skill change: upskilling, deskilling or the polarization of skills?. Work, Employment and Society, 5(3), 319-351.
  30. Gliwa, S. (2020). Białorusini welcome to. Ukraina czy Polska - kto przejmie ekspertów rynku IT? Retrieved from https://www.cyberdefence24.pl/bialorusini-welcome-to-ukraina-czy-polska-kto-przejmie-ekspertow-rynku-it/ on November 10, 2020.
  31. GovTech. (2021). Zapraszamy specjalistów IT. Retrieved from https://www.gov.pl/web/poland-businessharbour/polandbusiness-harbour on June 14, 2021.
  32. Grevtsova, A. (2018). Predprinimatel'skaya sreda v Respublike Belarus' politicheskiye usloviya i mekhanizmy adaptatsii, [The business environment in the Republic of Belarus: political conditions and adaptation mechanisms]. Biznes. Obshchestvo. Vlast, 30, 122.
  33. Heritage. (2021). Index of Economic Freedom, 2021. Retrieved from www.heritage.org/index/country/belarus/on June 22, 2021.
  34. Ho, S.C., Kauffman, R.J., & Liang, T.P. (2011). Internet-based selling technology and ecommerce growth: a hybrid growth theory approach with cross-model inference. Information and Technology Management, 12, 409-429.
  35. HTP. (2020a). High Tech Park Belarus, Tsifry i Fakty, [Figures and Facts]. Retrieved from www.park.by/htp/facts/ on August 15, 2020.
  36. HTP. (2020b). Introduction. Retrieved from www.park.by/en/htp/about/ on August 22, 2020.
  37. IMF. (2021). Retrieved from www.imf.org/en/Countries/BLR on January 17, 2021.
  38. Investment. (2020). IT-khab v Kiyeve: pochemu belorusskiye aytishniki massovo pereyezzhayut v Ukrainu, [IT hub in Kiev: why Belarusian IT specialists massively move to Ukraine]. Retrieved from https://investment.24tv.ua/ru/it-hab-v-kieve-belorusskie-ajtishniki-edut-v-ukrainu_n1445362/ on October 23, 2020.
  39. KMU. (2020a). Kabіnetmіnіstrіv Ukraini, Postanova vіd 23 grudnya 2020 r. № 1302, Kiiv. Deyakі pitannya perebuvannya v Ukraїnі Gromadyanrespublіki Bіlorus, [Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Resolution of December 23, 2020,1302, Kyiv, Some issues of stay in Ukraine of citizens of the Republic of Belarus]. Retrieved from www.kmu.gov.ua/npas/deyaki-pitannya-perebuvannya-v-ukrayini-gromadyan-respubliki-bilorus-i231220-1302/ on June 23, 2021.
  40. KMU. (2020b). Poyasnyuvalʹna Zapyska do proektu postanovy Kabinetu Ministriv «pro realizatsiyu ekvperymentalʹnoho proektu shchodo sproshchenoho oformlennya posvidok na tymchasove prozhyvannya hromadyanam Respubliky Bilorusʹ, yaki ye pidpryyeetsyamy, vysokokvalifikovanymy spetsialistamy, zokrema, fakhivtsyamy u sferi informatsiynykh tekhnolohiy ta innovatsiy, immihratsiya yakykh vidpovidaye interesam Ukrayini, ta chlenam yikh simey», [Explanatory Note to the draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on the implementation of a pilot project on simplified registration of temporary residence permits for citizens of the Republic of Belarus who are entrepreneurs, highly qualified specialists, in particular, specialists in information technology and innovation, immigration and Ukraine]. Retrieved from http://materialy.kmu.gov.ua/f81760a2/docs/22a77085/Poyasnyuvalna_zapiska.pdf/ on June 27, 2021.
  41. Kneuer, M. (2007). Autocratic Regimes and Foreign Policy, Oxford Research Encyclopedia, 4. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.392
  42. Leopold, T.A., Ratcheva, V., & Zahidi, S. (2016). The Future of Jobs: Employment, Skills and Workforce Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Global Challenge Insight Report, World Economic Forum. Retrieved from www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs.pdf/ on June 23, 2021.
  43. Lorenz, M., Rüßmann, M., Strack, R., Lueth, K.L., & Bolle, M. (2015). Man and Machine in Industry 4.0: How Will Technology Transform the Industrial Workforce Through 2025, The Boston Consulting Group. Retrieved from https://image src.bcg.com/Images/BCG_Man_and_Machine_in_Industry_4_0_Sep_2015_tcm9-61676.pdf on June 19, 2021.
  44. Lucas, H.C.Jr., Agarwal, R., Clemons, E.K., El Sawy, O.A., & Weber, B. (2013). Impactful research on transformational information technology: an opportunity to inform new audiences, Mis Quarterly, 37(2), 371-382.
  45. ManpowerGroup. (2021). 21 Trendów na 2021 rok: transformacja talentów i przyszłość rynku prac. Retrieved from www.manpowergroup.pl/raporty-rynku-pracy/ on June 28, 2021.
  46. Mansfield, E.D., Milner, H., & V. Rosendorff, B.P. (2002). Why Democracies Cooperate More: Electoral Control and International Trade Agreements. International Organization 56, 3, 499-500.
  47. Maryska, M., Doucek, P., & Kunstova, R. (2012). The Importance of ICT Sector and ICT University Education for Economic Development. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 55(5), 1060-1068.
  48. Murphy, A. (2020). How can Belarus’s IT sector impact its international standing?. Minsk Dialogue. Retrieved from https://minskdialogue.by/en/research/memorable-notes/how-can-belarus-s-it-sector-impact-its-international-standing/ on February 22, 2020.
  49. Newsbeezer. (2021). Interview by Roman Protasiewicz for the Belarusian media. Retrieved from https://newsbeezer.com/polandeng/interview-by-roman-protasiewicz-for-the-belarusian-media-juraszs-analysis/ on June 22, 2021.
  50. OECD. (2020). SME Economic Policy Index: Eastern Partnership Countries 2020. Assessment Of The European Sme Business Act, 467. Paris: OECD Publishing.
  51. PAIH. (2020). Poland Business Harbour - program polskiego rządu dla przedsiębiorczych Białorusinów z sektora ICT. Retrieved from https://www.paih.gov.pl/20201001/raport_poland_business_harbour/ on October 11, 2020.
  52. PARP. (2021). Raport o stanie sektora małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw 2020, Polska Agencja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości, Warszawa. Retrieved from www.parp.gov.pl/component/publications/publication/raport-o-stanie-sektora-malych-i-srednich-przedsiebiorstw-w-polsce-2020 on January 23, 2021.
  53. President. (2020). Prezydent Białorusi. Retrieved from http://president.gov.by/ru/economy_ru/ on August 16, 2020.
  54. President. (2021). Prezident pіdpisav ukaz pro zakhodi іz zaluchennya ІT-fakhіvtsіv z Bіlorusі, [The President has signed a decree on entering from the meeting of IT-factions from Belarus]. Retrieved from www.president.gov.ua/news/prezident-pidpisav-ukaz-pro-zahodi-iz-zaluchennya-it-fahivci-64249/ on June 11, 2021.
  55. Rasińska, A. (2016). Polska jako centrum outsourcingu IT, a brak wystarczającej liczby programistów w kraju, Informacja Prasowa Transition Technologies.
  56. Rosandic, A. (2018). Social Economy in Eastern Neighbourhood and in the Western Balkans. Country report – Belarus, AETS Consortium – March 2018. European Commission. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/social-economy-eastern-neighbourhood-and-western-balkans_en on June 22, 2021.
  57. Savulescu, C. (2015). Dynamics of ICT Development in the EUPr. Pocedia Economics and Finance, 23, 513-520.
  58. Sergei, S. (2020). Belarus’ IT sector could face a mass exodus, International Politics and Society. Retrieved from www.ips-journal.eu/regions/europe/belarus-it-sector-could-face-a-mass-exodus-4638/ on September 13, 2020.
  59. Spezia, V., Koksal-Oudot, E., & Montagnier, P. (2016). New Skills for the Digital Economy - Measuring the Demand and Supply of ICT Skills at Work, OECD Digital Economy Papers, 258.
  60. Sylwestrzak, M. (2018). Wpływ ICT na wzrost gospodarczy w krajach Unii Europejskiej w latach 2006-2016. Ekonomiczne Problemy Usług, 2, 361-369
  61. Trusiewicz, I. (2020). W walce o białoruskie firmy IT chce nas ubiec Litwa. Mamy jednak asa. Retrieved from https://cyfrowa.rp.pl/globalne-interesy/52798-w-walce-o-bialoruskie-firmy-it-moze-nas-ubiec-litwa-mamy-jednak-asa/ on October 17, 2020.
  62. Ukrinform. (2021). Kabmin sprostyv pravyla immihratsiyi z Bilorusi, [The Cabinet has simplified the rules of immigration from Belarus]. Retrieved from https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3160045-kabmin-sprostiv-pravila-immigracii-z-bilorusi.html/ on June 22, 2021.
  63. Ukrstat. (2020). Retrieved from http://ukrstat.org/uk/operativ/operativ2008/vvp/vvpric/arhvtru.html on January 30, 2021.
  64. UNCTAD. (2021). Trade Map in United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Retrieved from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/wds/TableViewer/tableView.aspx on January 23, 2021.
  65. UnctadStat. (2021). Retrieved from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/wds/ReportFolders/reportFolders.aspx on January 22, 2021.
  66. VCTR. (2021). Mintsifra sozdala instruktsiyu po relokeytu dlya belorusskikh aytishnikov, [Ministry of Digital Industry has created instructions on relocation for Belarusian IT specialists]. Retrieved from https://vctr.media/relokaciya-belarus-ukraina-46605/ on June 12, 2021.
  67. von Westernhagen, N. (2002). Systemic Transformation, Trade and Economic Growth. Developments, Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Results. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg: Physica-Verlag Heidelberg.
  68. Vu, K., Hanafi Zadeh, P., & Bohlin, E. (2020). ICT as a driver of economic growth: a survey of the literature and directions for future research. Telecommunications Policy, 44(2), 101922.
  69. Vu, K.M. (2011). ICT as a source of economic growth in the information age: empirical evidence from the 1996-2005 period. Telecommunications Policy, 35(4), 357-372.
  70. Warr, B., & Ayres, R.U. (2012). Useful work and information as drivers of economic growth. Ecological Economy, 73, 93-102.
  71. Weeks, J.L.P., & Crunkilton, C. (2017). Domestic Constraints on Foreign Policy in Authoritarian Systems. Oxford Research Encyclopedia, 3, 7-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.413
  72. World Bank. (2021a). Retrieved from www.worldbank.org/en/country/ on January 14, 2021.
  73. World Bank. (2021b). Statistics on small and medium-sized enterprises in EU and the Eastern Partnership countries. Retrieved from https://databank.worldbank.org/ on January 24, 2021.
  74. World Bank. (2021c). Retrieved from www.worldbank.org/en/country/belarus/overview#3 on January 23, 2021.
  75. World Bank. (2021d). Retrieved from https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators on January 12, 2021.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

11-20 of 174

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.