Employers Struggle with Shortage of Engineers, IT Specialists - Survey

Some 44% of Bulgarian employers admit they struggle finding qualified engineers, managers and skilled workers, according to the annual survey of Manpower Group.

The top 5 professions employers are having difficulty finding candidates for include engineers, skilled workers, managers, IT specialists and accounting and financial personnel.

Bulgaria ranks fourth in Europe, Middle East and Africa in terms of shortage of talent, according to the ninth annual Talent Shortage Survey results. Only three countries have it worse - Turkey (63%), Israel (49%) and Hungary (45%), according to Expert.bg.

Regarding the effect of the talent shortage on their organizations, the highest percentage of employers in Bulgaria (51%) say that it reduces the competitiveness and productivity, while 46% say that shortages significantly impact their ability to meet client needs, and 39% complain of reduced innovation and creativity.

Manpower's survey of more than 37,000 employers in 42 countries and territories found that 36% of global employers are having difficulty finding candidates with the right skills to fill open positions.

"Talent shortages continue to persist and are impeding employers' ability to deliver value for their customers," said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup CEO.

"Due to the lack of applicants with the right technical competencies, experience and soft skills, one out of three employers struggle to fill open roles. For nearly a decade skilled trades and STEM positions are among the top 10 hardest jobs to fill, both globally and in the U.S."

Employers in Japan report the greatest talent shortages globally (81 percent). Acute shortages were also reported in Peru, India, Argentina, Brazil and Turkey.