Belarusian IT sector loses 23K people in two years

Less than 100 thousand people currently work in the IT sector of Belarus. The number of those employed in this industry has returned to the level of 2019, writes Dev.by.

Last year, more than 88 thousand people worked in IT, according to preliminary data. This is 16% or 17.6 thousand less than in 2022. In total, over the past two years, the IT sector has lost more than 22.5 thousand people only according to official data. The industry's losses can be much higher, the publication notes. Since last year, Belarus' official statistics body, Belstat, has not published information about the hired and fired in IT. It only reports data on the entire "information and communication"  sector.

This year, 44 new residents appeared in the Belarusian HTP, but most are small companies. Thus, the influx of new specialists may be insignificant, notes Dev.by. At the same time, several dozen companies have announced their departure from Belarus. In early January, the closure of the Minsk office of the Israeli game developer Playtika became known to the public (about 300 people work in the Minsk office today). Apalon, a mobile developer with Belarusian roots, is also closing its Minsk office. In February-March, the company will lay off its entire Belarusian team (more than 100 people). Belka Games, a game development studio with Belarusian roots, is also leaving the country. More than 100 people used to work there.