Bulgarian Employment Confederation Survey: The Labor Market Remains Optimistic Despite Economic Challenges

Nearly one in three employers in Bulgaria plans to expand their teams between October 2025 and March 2026, according to the ninth national survey conducted by the Bulgarian Employment Confederation (BEC).

The study, based on the responses of 1 017 employers across 12 industries, reveals a generally optimistic outlook on the labor market. While 28% expect to create new jobs, 22% plan staff reductions, and 38% intend to maintain their current workforce. As a result, the net employment outlook stands at +6%, marking a three-percentage-point increase compared to the previous survey period.

“Despite the turbulent economic environment and geopolitical uncertainty, the demand for talent remains steady. Companies increasingly realize that in the battle for talent, it’s not enough just to hire specialists – they must actively invest in strategies for retention and development. We are seeing successful organizations rethinking their people management approaches, offering flexible work models, and creating opportunities for professional growth. This is no longer a matter of choice, but of survival,” commented Nadia Vassileva, Chair of BEC.

“Interestingly, although the Bulgarian economy currently needs at least 300 000 workers, only 23% of surveyed employers have hired or would consider hiring people from third countries. This clearly shows that Bulgaria needs to develop a targeted migration policy, a coherent national strategy, and legislation that facilitates and accelerates the process of attracting foreign specialists,” she added.

IT Sector Leads with the Most Optimistic Hiring Plans

The information technology sector shows the strongest hiring expectations (+23%), followed by manufacturing (+18%), wholesale and retail trade (+16%), and financial and insurance activities, real estate, and business services (+14%).
Positive, though more moderate, expectations are also seen in hospitality and food services (+9%), construction (+8%), outsourcing (+7%), transport, storage, and communications (+6%), public and social sector (+3%), and electricity, gas, and water (+1%).

“The coming months will bring growth across several industries. To remain competitive, talents need to invest in new skills – especially in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. In a world where change is constant, flexibility and adaptability are the most valuable skills,” said Vassileva.

Regional Differences

Sofia (+65%) and Plovdiv (+17%) plan the most active workforce expansion, while in Varna (+8%) and Burgas (+8%) the forecasts decrease by four and two percentage points, respectively, compared to the previous six months. In Ruse (+2%), hiring expectations remain unchanged.

“The data clearly indicate that Bulgaria’s labor market demonstrates resilience despite global uncertainty. We see companies gradually adapting to the new reality and seeking ways to grow. Organizations that invest in developing their people today – building their teams’ digital and analytical skills and creating flexible work models – will be the undisputed leaders of tomorrow. This is a time for rethinking and transformation that demands courage and vision,” concluded Vassileva.

About the Bulgarian Employment Confederation (BEC)

The Bulgarian Employment Confederation (BEC) is the leading non-governmental organization that unites the expertise of Bulgaria’s largest HR companies. The Confederation promotes innovation and digital solutions in human resource management while closely following global trends in the sector. BEC actively works to foster effective partnerships within the industry and to create a better working environment in the country. It identifies key challenges in the labor market and employment legislation and proposes practical solutions to address them. More at: www.bec-bg.com