DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE LABOR MARKET AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article focuses on the trends in the digital transformation of the labor market and the development of alternative forms of employment in the Carpathian region of Ukraine. It explores the influence of information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital services on the evolving structure of employment, with particular emphasis on the rise of freelancing, platform-based employment, and self-employment. The study identifies how digitalization plays a pivotal role in reshaping labor organization models and providing new avenues for economic activity, particularly in light of ongoing socio-economic transformations and the challenges brought by wartime conditions. These factors have accelerated the need for structural adjustments in labor markets and have contributed to the emergence of non-traditional employment models. A key aspect of the article is the analysis of regional disparities in digitalization processes, particularly the gap between Lviv region, which has become a leader in the development of the IT industry, and other areas within the Carpathian region. The article highlights the significant variation in digital employment across the region, with Lviv standing out due to its well-established IT sector and innovation-driven economic environment. In contrast, peripheral regions such as Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi experience lower levels of digital sector development and digital employment, thus creating a spatial imbalance in the regional labor market. These imbalances exacerbate the challenge of developing flexible employment models in the peripheral areas of the Carpathian region, where the potential for digital transformation remains underexploited. The article points out that such structural disparities limit the opportunities for residents in rural and mountainous areas to access digital job markets, thus hindering their participation in the broader economic transformation. The uneven distribution of digital employment sectors across the region also impedes the integration of peripheral regions into the growing digital economy. In response to these challenges, the article proposes several measures to stimulate digital development. These include enhancing infrastructure to provide high-speed Internet access in mountainous areas, expanding opportunities for remote work, and fostering innovative startups.