"Man for an hour." How the market for home service professionals has evolved.

Services provided by repair specialists for plumbing, electronics, and general household tasks have always been in high demand among households. Such professionals are commonly referred to as "handyman for an hour."

Since the onset of the war in 2014 and the increase in migration in 2017 due to the "visa-free" regime, the number of handymen in the spontaneous service market began to decline. The shortage of personnel worsened significantly starting in 2022.

Less competition leads to poorer service quality and higher prices. Is this really the case? EП inquired with two online platforms that act as intermediaries between service providers and homeowners.

How supply and demand for specialists have changed

The demand for services in the categories of "Handyman," "Appliance Repair," "Finishing Works," and "Construction Works" has significantly decreased since the beginning of the full-scale war, says the marketing director of the Kabanchik.ua website, Nadezhda Panchenko.

"Many people left the country, and there was simply no one to place orders. In 2022, the number of service orders dropped by 43% compared to 2021 figures," - says Panchenko.

The most significant decline was recorded in the construction and finishing sectors - over 60%, while the least drop occurred in the appliance repair category, which saw a decline of 25%. In 2023 and 2024, the situation stabilized as some citizens returned to Ukraine. However, according to Panchenko, the demand is still 30% lower than pre-war levels.

In 2021, OLX users visited the pages of the categories "Appliance Repair and Maintenance," "Construction and Repair," and "Household Services" 11.9 million times. In 2022, demand fell by 35%, says Maria Abdullina, head of the OLX "Jobs and Services" department.

"In 2023, demand rebounded (up 16 percentage points over the year), but it still hasn't reached pre-invasion levels. This year, we have nearly 9.5 million reviews," - says Abdullina.

The imbalance between supply and demand did not occur because the market for specialists has also shrunk significantly, adds Kabanchik.ua. In 2021, there were 16 tasks per specialist, while in 2022 there were 13. By the end of 2024, the indicator remains stable at 17 tasks per active specialist, which is nearly equivalent to the pre-war period.

Since 2022, the number of listings on the platform has declined, confirming OLX's data - down 34%, corresponding to the drop in demand. The main reason is the decrease in the number of service providers due to migration and mobilization.

Which specialists are in short supply

Kabanchik.ua measures the shortage of specialists using the Offer Rate, which reflects how many specialists submit their offers for tasks. "When this indicator is above 90%, it means the market is doing well, and there are enough specialists. When it decreases, it reflects problems," - says Panchenko.

A genuine shortage of service providers has formed in the categories of "Handyman," "Repair," and "Household Services," but it is felt more acutely in specific subcategories, say the interviewees from EП.

There is a critical shortage of laborers, welders, tile installers, plasterers, furniture restorers, nannies, caregivers, and seamstresses.

"The labor shortage is significantly felt in categories requiring young and strong men - specialists in construction and finishing, appliance repair, and door installation and repair," - adds Panchenko.

Abdullina notes that the least number of services are offered by appliance maintenance specialists. "In the category of 'Construction and Repair,' we have 25 reviews per listing, 'Household Services' - 26 reviews, and 'Appliance Repair and Maintenance' - 41 reviews," - shares the OLX representative.

Prices

Prices for "handyman" services have increased, says Panchenko. However, since there is no predominance of demand over supply, the only reason for the increase in the average check is inflation.

"When comparing the average check from 2021 to that of 2024, the greatest growth is observed in the areas of construction, finishing, and appliance repair - almost double. The smallest price increase occurred in the handyman category: "only" by 50%," - says the marketing director of Kabanchik.ua.

Has the quality of work worsened

Higher competition benefits the consumer, says Abdullina. However, the current situation is unfavorable: the decrease in the number of qualified personnel due to mobilization or migration "definitely affects" the quality of services provided, she adds.

Kabanchik.ua regularly surveys users regarding their experience with the service. When asked, "Has the quality of services provided by specialists worsened?" homeowners respond: "Yes, it has worsened." However, the statistical picture is not as grim.

In 2021, 49% of all dissatisfied customers of "Kabanchik" were upset because they could not find a specialist on the platform; in 2024, this share has risen to 52%.

"Another example can be the reason of 'the specialist overcharging.' That is, the specialist takes the order but later informs the client that they want more money for it. Unfortunately, such cases have increased.

In 2021, only 6% of dissatisfied users were upset about this, while in 2024, it has risen to 10%. A similar situation exists for those who complain about the unprofessionalism of the specialist: it was 6%, now it's 8%," - explains Panchenko.

Which services have become more or less in demand

"The demand reflects the times," - smiles Panchenko.

The most popular services include the installation and repair of generators, refrigerator repairs, washing machine and boiler repairs (due to power outages, appliances break down), voltage relay installation, electrical installation work, and socket installation and repair.

The service of "waiting in line" is gaining popularity. It is ordered by men who need to update their data at territorial recruitment and social support centers or undergo a military medical commission.

"Among the services that were 'in demand' before the full-scale war and are still popular now are apartment cleaning, leak repairs, toilet installation, furniture assembly, tile laying, apartment renovations, and more," - adds the representative of Kabanchik.ua.

On OLX, the most sought-after services are construction services, apartment repairs, car repair services, and freight transportation. Over the past year, demand for tutoring has increased significantly (by 30%).

Among the least popular, Abdullina highlights services in the tourism and immigration sector (assistance with visa/documentation for residence permits).

Regional differences

The list of the most sought-after services is roughly the same across all regions of Ukraine, says Abdullina. Some distinctions include: in Kharkiv, there is a higher demand for tutors due to online learning, in Kyiv region, financial services are popular, and in Odesa region, repair and maintenance of climate equipment is in demand.

There are no issues with order closures in large cities, adds Panchenko. "Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro - everything is executed well. Problems are observed in cities closer to the frontline (Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia), in western regions (Ivano-Frankivsk, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Uzhhorod), as well as in Kyiv region (Vyshneve, Boryspil, Boyarka, Vyshhorod, Obukhiv, Vasylkiv)," - she concluded.