site.btaPM Zhelyazkov, Commissioner Minzatu Discuss European Instruments in Support of Employment

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Commissioner for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Training Roxana Minzatu discussed the implementation of European instruments in support of employment, social protection and the effective link between education and the real economy, the government information service said.

Bulgaria remains strongly committed to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the achievement of its objectives. This initiative is essential for improving living and working conditions across the European Union, Zhelyazkov and Minzatu stressed.

Bulgaria has made very good progress in recent years on the issue of employment, Zhelyazkov said. In terms of the European Union (EU) level indicator aiming to achieve at least 78% employment of the population aged 20-64 by 2030, Bulgaria has set an even higher national target of 79%, which it plans to reach. In 2024, the positive trend continued, with the employment rate already at 76.8%, which is by 1 percentage point higher than the EU average in 2024, the Prime Minister added.

Zhelyazkov and Minzatu underlined the importance of the Commission's major initiative Skills Union, which covers all levels of education and training and their link to the economy. In the Bulgarian context, the initiative is of particular importance in the field of education and in preparing young people for the labour market. Its implementation has significant potential in the field of dual education. Enrolment in vocational classes is being expanded to encourage more young people to build their careers in key industries important for the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Government's commitment to building STEM centres.

Zhelyazkov focused on the Bulgarian government's priority for the country's membership in the euro area. Highlighting the positives of adopting the single European currency, the Prime Minister said that Bulgaria's accession to the euro area is also a fundamental step in strengthening the process of upward social convergence.

Minzatu congratulated Bulgaria on the positive convergence reports, underlining the social dimension of the country's economic integration.

In May, the employment agency reported that unemployment continued to fall and more than 19,700 people started work in April. In April 2025, 19,725 unemployed people started work through the job centres. A further 393 employees, students and pensioners found employment with the help of job brokers.