site.btaBulgaria Has Brought In 108,000 Third-Country Workers over Past Three Years

Bulgaria's labour market is facing a shortage of skills rather than simply a shortage of workers, said Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova in an interview with Bulgarian National Television (BNT) on Friday.

Over the past three years, Bulgaria has brought in more than 108,000 workers from third countries, she said, adding that employers are increasingly looking abroad because nearly half of those registered with labour offices are low-skilled.

Efremova described Bulgaria's unemployment rate as "unhealthily low" and said labour imports were inevitable given the growing demand for workers with specific skills.

She also said the government had initially faced difficulties ensuring that all social insurance payments under the 2026 State Social Insurance Budget would be fully guaranteed, but stressed that the most vulnerable groups would continue to receive pensions, maternity, unemployment and other benefits on time.

The minister said Progressive Bulgaria had never proposed shortening maternity leave and noted that discussions would continue next year on measures to strike a better balance while protecting mothers.

She added that the planned introduction of personal social insurance contributions for civil servants from August 1 would not reduce their net income.

Efremova also said lifting the pension cap was not currently under discussion, although increasing it was being considered.

On residential care for older people, she said Bulgaria has 81 state-delegated care homes accommodating more than 3,000 residents, with five more facilities due to open this year.