Bulgaria to fund training for 6,000 workers to address labor shortages

Bulgaria's Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has announced that over 6,000 people will undergo training and qualification programs this year using state budget funds. According to Deputy Minister Danail Rusev, one in six participants will be trained for roles in the construction sector or related industries.

Addressing a long-term labor shortage, the Ministry is implementing several strategies, including activating inactive populations, encouraging Bulgarian citizens with experience abroad to return, and utilizing labor migration from third countries. The construction sector currently employs over 220,000 people, representing approximately 9% of the country's total workforce.

Financial support is being channeled through the ‘Human Resources Development’ program, which has approximately 440 million euros allocated to assist both workers and employers. This includes training for the unemployed, subsidized employment, and upskilling current employees. Additionally, a new pilot procedure titled ‘Specific Skills for the Workforce’ has been introduced with a budget exceeding 13 million euros, allowing employers to directly determine the training content required for their staff.