Employment Agency

In October, the registered unemployment rate in Bulgaria remained steady at 5.2%, according to the Employment Agency. At the end of the month, 148,463 people were unemployed, reflecting an increase of 1,267 compared to September.

In Bulgaria, the demand for workers has been steadily increasing, a trend that continued into the past year. Despite this, more than 200,000 people in the country who are capable of working remain unemployed. This raises the question of why such a large portion of the potential workforce is not engaged in the labor market.

Over the next year, more than 17,000 Bulgarian companies are planning layoffs, marking a nearly 37% rise in firms forced to scale back and reduce staff. In 2023, 12,600 companies reported similar workforce reductions. This data comes from a study by the Employment Agency on labor market needs.

The latest market survey from the Employment Agency indicates a persistent high demand for labor in Bulgaria, both in the short and long term. However, the need for workers varies significantly across different sectors and professions. Construction workers have surged to the forefront, replacing machine operators, while the tourism sector shows a decline in demand.

Bulgaria is increasingly drawing its workforce from various continents, with the "Migration" Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs allowing foreign nationals from 17 non-EU countries to work in the country during the first seven months of the year.

For five consecutive years, McDonald's has maintained its position as one of Bulgaria's top employers, consistently earning recognition in the Hewitt/AON survey. The company has also twice been ranked among the top 10 employers in Central and Eastern Europe.

More than half of the unemployed in Bulgaria lack professional qualifications, according to data from the Employment Agency. This group has grown by 8% compared to the first half of last year. Currently, over 152,000 people are unemployed in Bulgaria, with more than 87,000 of them lacking professional qualifications.

In July, Bulgaria saw a slight decrease in unemployment, with the rate dropping to 5.4%, according to a report from the Employment Agency (EA). This figure represents a reduction from the previous month's rate of 5.3%, when 150,990 people were unemployed. By the end of July, the total number of unemployed individuals had risen to 152,844.

In Bulgaria, the search for skilled professionals continues to be a pressing concern, with machine operators, tailors, and cooks emerging as the most sought-after professionals with vocational qualifications.

Two major enterprises announce mass dismissals in the Stara Zagora region. The director of the Regional Inspection of Labour, Lyuben Georgiev, declared the news during a press conference.