Bulgaria Grapples with Skills Gap as New Report Highlights Attractive and Unattractive Professions
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A new national assessment reveals a widening gap between the skills Bulgarian companies need and the skills available in the workforce, with 89% of firms citing a lack of qualified personnel as a barrier to investment. The findings, presented at the National Conference “Attractive Professions for a Enduring Future,” underscore the urgent need for strategic workforce development and a reevaluation of
, utilized a nationally representative survey to determine the attractiveness of various occupations. The results paint a stark picture of evolving priorities. According to the model used, the most appealing career paths currently center around technology and specialized training. Engineering specialists, details and communication technology operations technicians, web content software developers, database administrator designers, electronic technicians, and training and staff development specialists topped the list.
Conversely, traditional roles and those requiring notable artistic skill were deemed the least attractive.Gardeners,air traffic security technicians,musicians,dancers,freight forwarding agents,and even airline pilots were identified as facing challenges in attracting talent.
The Imperative of Lifelong Learning
The need for continuous skill development was a central theme of the conference. Deputy minister of Labour and Social Policy Nataliya Efremova emphasized the critical role of lifelong learning in bolstering professional prestige and addressing the skills shortage. “The lack of skills is a major obstacle in the desire for new investments in our country,” she stated, highlighting the direct link between workforce capabilities and economic growth.
Future Job market: Demand for Specialized Roles
Looking ahead, the Bulgarian job market is expected to see significant demand for specialized roles. Anna Delibasheva, Deputy Chief Director of the Main Directorate “Employment Services” at the Employment Agency, projected a need for 128,532 specialists within the next 12 months. The most in-demand positions include machine operators and builders, followed by service industry roles such as waiters, cooks, and tailors.
However, Delibasheva also pointed to emerging fields poised for growth. Professions like human outlook specialist, data analyst, cyber security expert, eco-engineer, human organ maker, renewable energy specialist, and drone developer are expected to become increasingly relevant in the future.
Digital and green Sectors Lead the Way
Luba Krasteva of the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training underscored the potential within the evolving list of 193 recognized professions, noting that 40 of these fall within the digital and green sectors. This shift reflects a broader global trend toward sustainability and technological innovation.
The importance of collaboration between employers, employees, and government was also highlighted. KNSB Vice President Daniela Alexieva stressed the need for increased social dialogue to enhance the attractiveness of professions, noting that the current scope of collective bargaining stands at only 28%, presenting a significant challenge.
Assoc. dr. Valeri apostolov, confederal secretary and chairman of the “Higher Education” union at KT “Support,” added that unions provide valuable insights into personnel needs at the sectoral level and can play a crucial role in shaping realistic workforce forecasts. “Social dialogue is a vital tool through which trade unions can influence sectoral forecasts to ensure that they reflect the reality in businesses,” he explained.
The conference, organized by the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AIKB), served as a critical platform for addressing the complex challenges facing the Bulgarian labor market and charting a course toward a more skilled and sustainable future.
