SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES OF UKRAINE IN WAR CONDITIONS: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Small and medium-sized businesses, which account for over 90% of businesses, make a huge contribution to global economic growth and are reaching significant sizes. Ukraine employs over 2.1 million entrepreneurs. They are the foundation of a new Ukrainian economy built on private property, personal responsibility and the absence of corruption.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine make up 99.98% of all economic entities, provide 74% of all jobs and create 64% of added value. Individual entrepreneurs help build the country even during a full-scale war. Tax revenues from entrepreneurs increased 1.6 times in 2024 compared to 2021. In 2024, the contribution of individual entrepreneurs to the economy of Ukraine amounted to 1.3 billion USD.

The article analyzes the number of operating business entities and the volume of products (goods, services) produced by large, medium and small businesses for 2017-2024. It is shown that the volume of products produced by small businesses during the pre-war period increased (from 1,319,332.4 million UAH in 2017 to 2,940,637.7 million UAH in 2022). With the beginning of a full-scale war, the figure fell to UAH 1,882,735.6 million. In 2023, the business adapted to the difficult situation and began to gradually recover.

The main problems for small businesses in Ukraine in the current conditions are analyzed. The main problems include: market instability, energy shortages, and limited access to financing. Small business development can be hampered by tax and regulatory pressure, as well as competition from international companies. Ukrainian companies have to compete not only with each other, but also with global corporations that have larger budgets.

A significant problem is the shortage of labor resources. In addition, the reasons for the personnel shortage are also the lack of an effective mechanism for monitoring, analyzing and forecasting the labor market, and the lack of a state order for training in professions that are actually in demand on the market.

The prospects for the development of domestic small businesses are considered. The future of small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine depends on how quickly entrepreneurs adapt to new conditions.