Education and the Labour Market in Bulgaria in 2015: Imbalances and Main Challenges
Education and the Labour Market in Bulgaria in 2015: Imbalances and Main Challenges

Summary/Abstract: The paper is focused on the key labour market problems arising in the context of the still ongoing negative effects of the global financial crisis (2008/2009). By mid-2015, all regions of Bulgaria experienced sharp imbalances between labour force demand and supply. Analyses reveal that the main reason for the identified imbalances is the highly inadequate performance of the education system (particularly vocational training) with regard to the objective needs of the real economy. Vocational education by regions does not correspond to the branch structure of regional economies, and instead of training the needed specialists, the education system systematically reproduces and exacerbates imbalances between labour force supply and demand – both at regional and national levels. Deeper analysis shows that the real problem of the labour market seems to be the severe discrepancies between education results/products and the qualification profiles and expectations of those who enter the labour market.

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