According to a national survey by the Bulgarian Employment Confederation (BEC), employers in the country remain moderately optimistic about the labor market for the period April–September 2025, reporting a positive employment outlook of +3%. It marks a slight decrease of one percentage point compared to the previous six months and a significant drop compared to the same period in 2024, when the rate reached +16%. The data indicates that employers are prioritizing stability with minimal growth, opting for a more cautious approach to expanding their teams.

The survey, which includes 1 078 companies across 12 economic sectors, shows that 22% of respondents plan to increase staff, while 19% anticipate layoffs, and 53% foresee no changes.

“Unlike the previous period, the share of uncertain employers has significantly decreased – from 24% to 12%,” commented Nadia Vassileva, Chair of the Bulgarian Employment Confederation. “This decline is mainly due to the deepening shortage of skilled workers, which forces companies to optimize and retain their existing teams. Employers are no longer just looking for employees, but for sustainable solutions – they are approaching recruitment more carefully and focusing on long-term efficiency, especially in the context of global uncertainty and technological change.”

Sofia – still leading, but showing signs of slowdown

Among the regions included in the study, Sofia remains the most dynamic labor market – 62% of employers in the capital plan to hire new employees. However, this share has dropped by 12 percentage points compared to the previous six months, signaling a slowdown in the intense growth seen in recent years.

Plovdiv (+14%), Varna (+12%), and Burgas (+10%) are showing moderate increases in hiring intentions, suggesting an expansion of economic activity beyond the capital. Only Ruse remains unchanged (+2%) compared to the previous survey period.

“Regional differences show it’s time for more targeted local policies. While Sofia is stabilizing, we see growth potential in Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas – with the right support and investment,” Vassileva emphasized.

Manufacturing back in the spotlight

Information Technology retains its leadership position with a projected +15% net employment outlook. However, the trend is downward – from +24% a year ago and +19% in the previous period. At the same time, the Manufacturing sector (+13%) and Financial and Insurance Activities, Real Estate and Business Services (+12%) have recorded increases of four and six percentage points, respectively.

Positive hiring sentiments are also shared by employers in the Hospitality and Restaurants (+10%) and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (+4%) sectors – a sign of revival in seasonally dependent industries.

“The most important takeaway from this study is that employers have learned to adapt. They no longer react with panic to changes but plan strategically – with a mindset focused on sustainable growth and employee retention,” concluded Nadia Vassileva.

About the Bulgarian Employment Confederation
The Bulgarian Employment Confederation is a non-governmental organization that brings together the expertise of leading companies in the HR services sector in Bulgaria. The Confederation promotes innovation, digital solutions, and adaptive approaches in human resource management, closely monitoring global trends in the field. Its primary mission is to build sustainable partnerships among industry players and contribute to the development of a better and more efficient working environment in the country. BEC actively raises important issues, identifies problems in the labor market and labor legislation, and works consistently toward sustainable solutions. More at: www.bec-bg.com.