The unemployment rate in 15 out of 28 regions of Bulgaria has surpassed 10% shows data of the Bulgarian Employment Agency, announced by the Bulgarian National Radio. The situation was similar in March for 11 regions and in April for 16.
The data indicates that the average unemployment rate in the country is about 9%. The highest unemployment is registered in the city of Vidin – 15,5%, with the least number of unemployed being in the capital city of Sofia – 4,4%.
The city of Pleven accounts for the toughest competition for job openings with 20 people competing for a single vacancy, announced Atanaska Todorova, chief labor market expert of Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria. On the average 9 people in Bulgaria are competing for a single opening.
There is a slight decrease in general unemployment due to seasonal businesses, added Todorova. There is already a surge in worker demand in the agricultural and forestry industry. The hospitality and restaurant industries are also contributing to the improvement thanks to the “60-40” governmental program for the protection of jobs from the negative economic effects of the COVID pandemic.
The daily number of unemployed people who have found a job has drastically increased from 1,124 in May to 1,634 for the week starting on May 15 – marking a 45.4% increase.
A total of 25,709 unemployed people have found a job by the end of May with 93,9% of them being in the formal industry. Further 252 jobseeking students and retired people have found a job through the labor bureau. However, there is an increasing number of dismissed workers in the processing industry and commerce.
