The Most Sought-After Professions in Bulgaria Over the Next 5 Years

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. The reasons vary, but one significant factor is the mismatch between the skills of these individuals and the jobs available. The labor market also faces challenges due to geographic mobility, with many people not willing to relocate for work.

Eurostat defines the group of people who could potentially work but are not fully employed as "reserves." This category includes the unemployed, those working part-time, individuals looking for work but not ready to start immediately, and those not looking for work but still available for employment. The age group in question ranges from 15 to 74 years old, reflecting a growing trend in Europe where older workers are becoming increasingly important due to the aging population and the shortage of labor.

Bulgaria's share of these "reserves" stands at 7%, well below the European average of 12%. Within this group, over 4% are unemployed, while 2% are people who are ready to work but not actively seeking employment. Half a percent consists of those who are looking for work but are not prepared to start immediately. The smallest group are those working part-time jobs. Over the past decade, the number of reserves in Bulgaria has significantly decreased from 20% to 7%, suggesting an improvement in the labor market, but also highlighting that many workers lack the necessary skills or are unwilling to relocate for available jobs.

The Employment Agency has identified areas where labor demand is...