2025
By Protocol Decision No. 52.27 of the Council of Ministers of 18.12.2024, an Action Plan for the period 2025-2027 was adopted to the Strategic Framework for the Development of Education, Training and Learning in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021-2030). It provides, under Priority Area 2. Competencies and Talents, Operational Objective 2.1. Training oriented towards the formation and development of key competencies and skills for life and work in the 21st century, activities related to updating the educational content and improving teaching methods in order to ensure the integration of key competencies in accordance with the age characteristics of children and students. Activities are also planned for the formation of skills aimed at developing social and emotional intelligence, empathy and the ability to work towards conflict resolution. It is envisaged that by applying innovative tools and models in the organization and content of students' training through the implementation of educational routes for innovative learning outside of school, conditions will be created for upgrading knowledge and skills, obtaining lasting integrated knowledge and soft skills that improve socio-emotional intelligence and increase motivation for learning. Work will also be done to build skills for responsible and disciplined behavior and self-control of students. Under Operational Objective 7.2. Formation and development of skills for the professions of the present and the future, it is envisaged to improve the capacity of teachers in vocational training and the quality of training. Graduates of vocational training and education must possess knowledge, skills and competencies that meet the requirements of business. Under the Education Program 2021-2027 - procedure "Development of the dual system of training in vocational education and training", funds have been allocated for additional professional training, "trial internship" and additional activities for students to acquire knowledge, skills and competencies in accordance with the requirements of the labor market.
It is planned to approve the National Program "Skills in Focus" in 2025. Its overall goal is to provide conditions for developing modern skills and upgrading competencies acquired in training, in accordance with the challenges of new realities. 4 modules are envisaged: "Practical Skills for Achievement", "Financial Literacy", "Reading with Comprehension" and "Positive Attitudes".
The new National Program "Without Aggression for a Safe Educational Environment" will include new activities related to the development of socio-emotional skills in primary school students. By developing the five interrelated areas of social and emotional competencies (self-knowledge, self-regulation, social awareness, skills for relationships with others, responsible decision-making), a positive context for learning at school and for communication will be provided, in which children will acquire skills to communicate with others, express themselves and achieve their goals. A pilot introduction of socio-emotional education in schools in various regions is planned.
The Employment Agency carries out activities under the projects "Starting a job - Component 3 "Employment" and "Youth Employment +". The projects are financed under the "Human Resources Development" Program and are part of a comprehensive package of measures aimed at the labor integration of unemployed and inactive persons, with an emphasis on people in disadvantaged situations. Within the framework of "Starting a job - Component 3 "Employment", a total of 14,400 persons are planned to be included in employment, and its duration is until the end of 2027.
The National Program "Start in Career" continues until 31.12.2025. It is an important element of the national employment policy aimed at reducing youth unemployment, improving the professional skills of young people and promoting their realization in Bulgaria. The main goal of the program is to provide opportunities for unemployed young people who have graduated from higher education to acquire work experience, in order to facilitate the transition between education and employment.
By 31.12.2025, a National Program "Activation of Inactive Persons" will also be implemented. The program aims to attract and motivate individuals and young people up to 29 years of age to register with a territorial division of the Employment Agency and encourage their inclusion in training, return to the education system and/or employment.
A Program for Training and Employment of Long-Term Unemployed Persons is also in effect until the end of the year. The program is implemented on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, with priority given to regions with an unemployment rate above the national average for the previous year.
A Program for Employment and Training of Refugees will also be implemented by the end of 2025.
2024
Changes to the Employment Promotion Act
With changes to the Employment Promotion Act, an unified electronic centralized register of individuals and legal entities carrying out intermediary activity and/or providing temporary work is created.
During this period, the number of persons activated on the labor market increases. The level of registered unemployment in July in the country of 5.4 %. Young graduates who wish to start their professional career under the National "Career Start" program can apply for jobs.
The Employment Agency organizes free trainings for unemployed and inactive persons. The courses will be financed under the "Getting Started" project - Component 2 - "Training". The project is financed by the Human Resources Development Program 2021-2027, co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus. It aims to train people to meet the needs of employers in sectors where a shortage of personnel has been identified. About 14,000 unemployed and inactive persons is expected to be included in the training. It is planned to provide training for the acquisition of a professional qualification or part of a profession. The unemployed will be able to attend a course for language literacy, foreign languages, for mathematical competence or for one in the field of exact sciences, technology and engineering. Unemployed and inactive persons will be able to undergo training in personal and social competence, as well as in learning skills, civic and entrepreneurial competence.
The implementation of projects under the National Employment Action Plan in 2024 has begun. The projects will provide an opportunity for 6,278 unemployed persons to participate in training for the acquisition of a professional qualification and/or key competence, and at least 35% of them will be included in employment thereafter. The trainings are aimed at vulnerable groups on the labor market - unemployed young people up to 29 or over 55, long-term unemployed, persons with low or unsought professional qualifications and a lack of key competences, including with low education, as well as to persons outside the labor force, discouraged persons and others.
Projects of social partners to be implemented in 2024
Project "WORTHY FUTURE" - provides the inclusion of 880 unemployed persons in training for the acquisition of key competences and professional training in 16 professions.
Under the "EFFECTIVE MEASURES FOR EMPLOYMENT" project, trainings on "Personal skills for working in a team, in the process of employment" will be held for 240 persons and "Effective time management" for 300 persons. A total of 906 unemployed people will acquire professional qualifications in 19 different professions.
In the activities of the "TOMORROW - Successful Labor Realization" project, it is planned to include 877 unemployed persons in training in 14 professions and to acquire personal competence, social competence and competence to acquire learning skills.
In the activities of the "KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR WORK - 3" project, it is planned to include 940 unemployed persons in training in 15 professions and the acquisition of personal competence, social competence and competence to acquire learning skills and effective communication skills.
The "KNOW AND WE CAN MORE" project will enable 705 unemployed people to undergo training on the key competence "Personal competence, social competence and competence to acquire learning skills" on the topic "Management of personal effectiveness". The persons included will have the opportunity to undergo professional training in one of the 12 professions foreseen.
The "CHANCE FOR GREEN AND SOCIAL EMPLOYMENT" project includes training for 1,050 people in seven professions. Employment will be ensured for at least 56.4% of the unemployed persons included in the project training, and the employment will be in accordance with the qualification acquired under the project.
Under the "HORIZONTI 9" Project, trainings on "Personal competence, social competence and competence to acquire learning skills" - topic "Skills for competitive inclusion in the labor market" will be held for 920 persons. The persons involved will acquire qualifications in 15 professions.
2023
Adoption of an Action Plan for the implementation of the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion 2030
With the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 338 of May 3, 2023, an Action Plan for the period 2023-2024 for the implementation of the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion 2030 was adopted. An essential place in the Plan is occupied by training measures, promoting the start-up and development of social enterprises, as well as providing employment to persons from vulnerable groups by providing personal assistance to people with permanent disabilities.
The Action Plan contains a number of sectoral measures to support children and families - promoting the employment of parents, reconciling professional and family life, expanding the network of services for early childhood development, ensuring access to health care, providing affordable and quality social and integrated services, financial and material support for families with children, etc. It is planned that by the end of 2024, under Operation "Starting Work" Component 2 "Training" under The Human Resources Development Programme (2021-2027), 14,000 unemployed and inactive persons will be supported. 11,200 of them at the end of the operation will acquire qualification. In 2022, under the Project "Ready for Work" (under The Human Resources Development Operational Programme) activation experts motivated 4,310 inactive youth to register and seek assistance and support for inclusion in training and/or employment. For the current and next year, target values of 18,810 inactive participants aged 15-29 have been set, incl. outside training or education to be covered.
Upon leaving the operation, the trainees should be engaged in education/training, have received a qualification or have a job, incl. as self-employed persons. Activities to increase the qualifications and skills of unemployed persons in accordance with the needs of the labor market and the requirements of employers are also carried out under a two-year plan for trainings at the The Bulgarian-German Vocational Training Centre State Enterprise and trainings at the Center for human resources development and regional initiatives. Unemployed persons from vulnerable groups on the labor market are involved in training and employment through projects implemented by the social partners to meet employers' needs for a workforce with certain qualifications.
In 2022, dual training was provided to 254 unemployed persons, of which 198 were newly enrolled. Both this year and next year, activities are planned again to improve the employability of the unemployed, by including them in a dual training system. 40,000 unemployed and inactive persons will be included in training in Operation Digital Skills. 13,900 employed persons, incl. self-employed can be trained under the Operation "Qualification, Skills and Career Development of Employed Persons". 8,757 of them upon leaving the operation will receive a qualification and 11,120 will acquire digital skills. A programme has been created for the initiation and development of independent business activities for people with permanent disabilities. Projects to create Centers for protected employment to ensure labor integration for people with multiple permanent disabilities, mental disorders and/or intellectual disabilities are being made. It is planned to have 4 Centers for protected employment by the end of 2024.
The Programme for training and employment of long-term unemployed persons, National programme for employment and training of people with permanent disabilities, National programme "Activation of inactive persons", National programme for training and employment of refugees continue to operate and activities activities under these programmes are implemented.