The growth that we can’t handle: Things the book market’s human resources survey revealed

While we witness an expanding book market infrastructure, the book industry is undergoing staff shortages, low wages, worker burnout, and the poaching of qualified specialists. These and other problems are revealed in the survey, “Study of the personnel situation in the market, barriers and drivers in the work of book industry representatives.”

The survey was conducted by Chytomo Book Media outlet in partnership with CAT-UA (Communication Analysis Team – Ukraine)  with the support of the British Council in Ukraine.

“The survey revealed counterintuitive things,” notes project coordinator Iryna Baturevych. “Many publishers, for instance, refer to the so-called market growth and the unprecedented consumer demand for books. At the same time, they point out the lack of qualified and skilled workers, the rise in cost and complexity of printing, and separately, the slim profit margins, which are close to zero. This suggests  that the rapid increase of the market infrastructure, which many tend to call growth, risks turning into a decline – or at best, a missed opportunity without a sufficient number of skilled workers.”

Other results include: 

• The competition for personnel increased tremendously. Book companies poach top managers, bookstore directors, production and literary editors, designers, and translators from each other.
• Company owners say they are trying to retain employees by increasing salaries and working to increase employee loyalty.  That said, unsatisfactory salaries are the most common reason for leaving an employer or the industry. The second most common reason is burnout (37%).
• Editors-in-chief, top managers, and directors of publishing houses and bookstores have the highest salaries. At the same time, more than half of publishing house directors said they receive less than UAH 30,000 (665 euros)  per month.
• The industry has always employed mostly women, but in recent years the share of women has increased. At the same time, men have higher salaries: those who reported monthly salaries of over UAH 51,000 (1130 euros) and over UAH 70,000 (1500 euros) are mostly men.
• Industry players point out that specialized higher education is not mandatory for new employees in many book industry jobs where the only prerequisite may be a love of books and a personal interest in learning. 
• The need to use English at work has increased to 50% of respondents over the past two years. In 2021, only 33% reported often needing to use English at work.
• 60% of employees never use AI in their work.
• A significant part of former employees (44%) still see their future in the Ukrainian publishing industry. 

The full results of the survey are to be published in a week.

“The availability of quantitative and qualitative data allows industry players to make decisions based on the information they receive, building strategies for work and interaction,” says Lusia Zoria, head of programs in the areas of the Arts at the British Council Ukraine. “This is crucial for any creative business, and it is also valuable for individual workers, professionals, and specialized institutions. The survey conducted by Chytomo gives answers to many of the questions that have arisen as a result of the changing dynamics of the publishing sector in recent years. The results we see point to opportunities not only to improve conditions for employees and increase business efficiency, but also to work together and consolidate efforts to stabilize the industry.”

The survey, which lasted from August to September 2024, featured interviews with 610 employees of publishing houses, bookstores, printing shops, and other companies involved in the production, distribution, and promotion of books, including almost 150 former employees who migrated from the industry. In addition, the researchers conducted 12 in-depth interviews with top managers of publishing houses and bookstores (including nine large and three small companies that regionally represent: the Center and North, including Kyiv (5), West of Ukraine (3), East of Ukraine (2), all of Ukraine (2).

In 2021, Chytomo conducted a survey of salaries and the situation with personnel. The current survey is its continuation, and this year it is being implemented with the support of the British Council Ukraine as part of the Creative Economy Support program.

Chytomo is an independent media outlet about books, reading culture, and book publishing. For 15 years, Chytomo has been performing important functions of criticism, information reporting, and ecosystem development.

Communication Analysis Team — Ukraine — is a non-governmental organization that analyzes media and social networks to identify and counteract manipulation, deceptive influence, and information special operations, and conducts qualitative sociological surveys.

The British Council is an international organization that seeks to deepen cultural links and expand opportunities for education. The organization contributes to peace and prosperity by creating new perspectives, connecting people, and building trust between people in the UK and other countries in the fields of arts, culture, English language, and education. The British Council’s activities cover more than 200 countries, and it has offices in more than 100 countries.

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Image: Chytomo

Translation: Iryna Savyuk

Copy editing: Lea Ann Douglas, Terra Friedman King