site.btaNational Employment Agency: Over 15,000 Start Work in May, Unemployment at 5.11%

A total of 15,282 people found new jobs or professional opportunities across Bulgaria with the support of labour mediators, the National Employment Agency said on Tuesday.

In May 2025, 14,848 unemployed individuals and 434 people already employed, in education or retired, started work through assistance from labour offices nationwide.

The labour market in May showed positive dynamics, driven by the active work of the National Employment Agency and the increasing number of new training opportunities, the agency noted. A significant contribution was made towards the inclusion of vulnerable groups, with 1,744 people—such as persons with disabilities, young people without work experience, individuals aged over 55, and the long-term unemployed—entering subsidized employment. Of these, 1,628 were involved in projects financed under the Human Resources Development Programme 2021–2027, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.

The efforts of Roma and youth mediators, together with labour office teams across the country, also led to progress in activating economically inactive persons. According to the National Employment Agency, in May alone, more than 5,000 people who had not previously participated in the labour market were motivated to get involved.

At the end of May 2025, the number of registered unemployed persons in the country stood at 144,959, bringing the registered unemployment rate to 5.11%. This represents a decrease of 0.33 percentage points compared to the same month in the previous year, the agency data show.

Alongside efforts for employment and labour market activation, the National Employment Agency is investing in the future through training. During the month, more than 14,400 training vouchers were issued for both unemployed and employed individuals. This measure aims to improve qualifications and help people adapt to the requirements of the modern economy, with particular focus on accelerated digitalization and technological transformation.

In May, just over 9,000 job vacancies were registered on the primary labour market. The largest share were in the following sectors: manufacturing (23.1%), public administration (13.3%), trade and vehicle repair (12.8%), hotels and restaurants (11.5%), administrative and support services (7.5%), and construction (4.8%).

The most sought-after jobs included care staff, salespeople, industrial and construction workers, drivers, administrative and economic specialists, machine operators, craftsmen, and cleaners.

In June, 15 job fairs will be organized—13 general and two specialized—where jobseekers can explore professional opportunities and offers from businesses.