Kharkiv region is a leader in industrial gas production, and the industry has long-term potential for significant growth. Recently, many discussions have been held on the unconventional gas development and the related economic boom. However, are these assumptions reasonable? What is the socio-economic effects of unconventional gas exploration? Is the involvement of local companies as subcontractors possible? How many jobs will be created? The first such study in Ukraine deals with the social and economic benefits of unconventional gas development on the regional level and provides answers to these and other questions.