Bulgaria Immediately Needs 300,000 Foreign Workers

The Bulgarian labor market is currently facing a significant worker shortage, ranging from 250,000 to 300,000, according to human resources expert Georgi Parvanov.

Of this shortage, 70,000 are due to a lack of seasonal workers, Schengen.News reports.

Parvanov, a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of Employment, suggested that Bulgaria should establish quotas for hiring workers from third countries. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced foreign workforce from various countries and advised against an over-reliance on workers from a single nation. Parvanov, as cited by Nouvelles du Monde, also emphasized the need to exhaust local labor resources before recruiting from abroad.

Bulgaria to Employ Up to 40,000 People This Year
With a three-year visa program targeting manufacturing companies across various sectors, it is anticipated that 35,000 to 40,000 workers will be employed this year to meet company demands.

“Our embassies abroad are not prepared for this influx of foreign workers. We will probably import around 35-40,000 people this year. Last year, there were much fewer, and five to six years ago, we imported 5,000 to 6,000 people per year,” stated Georgi Parvanov of the Confederation of Employment.

Parvanov mentioned that workers from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan integrate well into Bulgarian society. He also noted a growing interest from workers in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, among others.

“These people come from countries where the average salary is $200 to $300 gross. Their goal is to send €100 to €200 to their families without a clear understanding of the cost of living and standards in Bulgaria,” Parvanov explained.

He further noted that third-country nationals must receive equal wages and benefits as Bulgarian workers, as mandated by law.

11 Occupations Facing Shortages in Bulgaria
A recent report by the European Labour Authority identified 11 occupations facing shortages in Bulgaria:

Heavy truck and lorry drivers
Sewing machine operators
Welders and flame cutters
Gardeners, horticultural, and nursery growers
Waiters
Chefs
Accountants
Secondary education teachers
Nursing professionals
Specialist medical practitioners
Electrical engineers
Conversely, surplus professions in Bulgaria include vegetable and related preservers, building frame and related trades workers not elsewhere classified, shop sales assistants, social work associate professionals, administrative and executive secretaries, and psychologists.