site.btaMinister Efremova Stresses Need to Factor Demographic Challenges into All Policies

Bulgaria's Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova stressed the need for all policies to take demographic challenges into account. ”The demographic challenges facing not only Bulgaria but the entire world require us not merely to focus our efforts on addressing these changes, but to take them into account in every policy we pursue. Demographics affect every area of life—the labor market, the pension system, healthcare, education, and regional disparities,” Efremova said, as quoted by her Ministry's press office. She spoke at a high-level forum titled “Demographic Resilience: Investing in Human Capital for Sustainable Futures” held during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Efremova noted that demographic trends in Bulgaria are affecting the labour market, pointing out that for every 100 people leaving the workforce, only 60 are entering to replace them. “To address this challenge, we are investing significant resources in human capital,” the Minister said.

First and foremost, support is being provided to young people under 29 as they transition from education to employment. Opportunities are being offered for internships, on-the-job training, and subsidized employment. At the same time, efforts are being made to tap the potential of economically inactive people, the long-term unemployed, and people with disabilities, with investments, incentives, and training opportunities aimed at helping them obtain qualifications.

The Minister also highlighted the pilot “I Choose Bulgaria” project, which aims to encourage Bulgarians living abroad to return to the country. She said that, for the first time, Bulgaria is seeing a trend in which more Bulgarians are returning to the country than leaving it in search of work and a better life.

Efremova also spoke about the broad range of new specialized social services for older people and people with disabilities that have been established in recent years to meet their needs. “Over the past two years, we have managed to renovate all 80 homes for older people in Bulgaria and build more than 170 entirely new integrated health and social care services,” she said. According to her, around 60% of the institutions from the old care system will be closed by the end of 2027.

Several months ago, Efremova said her Ministry would launch an internal mobility scheme aimed at people living in large cities who want to work and live in smaller communities, in quieter surroundings that sometimes offer better social infrastructure and greater access to kindergartens.