Profession Shortage: Bulgaria's Vocational Education Struggles with Demand Mismatch

Vocational education encompasses approximately half of high school students and is available in every district nationwide, reaching around 80% of all municipalities. The admissions blueprint for vocational education during the ongoing academic year (2023/2024) offers an intricate portrayal of the locations and specialties where professionals are undergoing training. Gathering data for this purpose, the IPI collated information from every Regional Directorate of Education (RDE) nationwide.

In the present academic year, vocational education provides training in a total of 146 different professions. Some professions find their niche in specific regions, like valets in Burgas or dog trainers in Montana, reflecting localized demands. Conversely, certain vocations, like transport technology technicians, cooks, and economists-informatics, witness widespread adoption, spanning 27, 26, and 25 districts respectively.

The rise of programming-related professions commands attention, with nearly 2,500 fresh faces entering the realm of programming, system programming, application programming, robot programming, and artificial intelligence programming. Similarly, the hospitality and restaurant industry sees a robust influx of over 4,000 students, underlining the sector's allure.

Yet, traditional technical vocations witness a decline in enrollment, with fewer than 50 students opting for professions like welders, turners, locksmiths, and shoemakers. This trend underscores a shifting preference towards modern, tech-driven career paths over traditional trades.

The perceived difficulty of certain professions, such as programming or electrical engineering, contrasts with the relative ease of entry into roles like sales consultants, office managers, or...