The Bulgarian Workforce
Who works
| Population, end of 2025 | 6.42 million |
|---|---|
| Of working age | 3.76 million, 58.6% of the population |
| Working, 2025 | 3.04 million, including the self-employed |
| Employment rate, ages 20 to 64 | 77.1% (men 80.8%, women 73.3%), Q2 2025 |
| Employed in services | 67.3% |
| Employed in industry | 27.4% |
| Employed in agriculture | 5.3% |
Source: 24 Chasa: Working-age population and people in work, 2025 (NSI and NSSI data, in Bulgarian); Economic.bg: Labour market in Q2 2025 (NSI Labour Force Survey)1,3
Women make up about half of the workforce, and a quarter of Bulgaria’s ICT specialists are women, one of the highest shares in the EU.3,5
Skills
- IT: ICT specialists made up 4.8% of employment in 2025, close to the EU average of 5.0% and growing faster than in the EU as a whole.
- Higher education: 40.5% of people aged 25 to 34 have a degree; 48,100 students graduated in 2025.
- Technical training: half of the students in upper-secondary vocational schools study engineering, manufacturing or other technical subjects, well above the EU average.
- Languages: English is the usual working language in IT, outsourcing and international business.
Source: European Commission: Digital Decade 2026 country report, Bulgaria; European Commission: Education and Training Monitor, Bulgaria; Dnevnik: Most new graduates hold business degrees (NSI, in Bulgarian)4,6,7
Digital skills are uneven: 38% of adults have at least basic digital skills, against 60% in the EU, so training budgets matter outside the IT sector.4
Cost of labour
Source: Eurostat: Labour cost levels by country, 2025 (lc_lci_lev)8
The average gross wage was €1,444 a month in Q2 2026, and €3,079 in information and communication. See Labour Costs for pay by sector and what an employer pays on top.9
What to plan for
- The working-age population fell by 12.5% in ten years. In 2025, for every 100 people reaching retirement age, 75 young people entered working age; only Sofia came close to replacing everyone.
- With unemployment at 3.5%, recruiting takes longer, especially for engineers, developers and skilled trades. Many employers recruit in regional cities such as Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse, where universities supply graduates.
- Citizens of other EU countries can work without a permit. Non-EU staff need an EU Blue Card or a single work and residence permit; see Residency.
Source: BTA: Bulgaria’s population fell to 6.42 million in 2025 (NSI, in Bulgarian); Eurostat: Euro area unemployment, August 202610,2
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Bulgaria?
About 3.04 million people worked in Bulgaria in 2025, including the self-employed. The population was 6.42 million at the end of 2025, and 3.76 million people were of working age.
What is the unemployment rate in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria’s unemployment rate was 3.5% in August 2026, compared with 6.1% across the EU. The working-age population fell by 12.5% over the ten years to 2025, and low unemployment means recruiting takes longer, especially for engineers, developers and skilled trades.
What is the average salary in Bulgaria?
The average gross wage in Bulgaria was €1,444 a month in Q2 2026. In information and communication, the average gross wage was €3,079 a month in Q2 2026.
How much does labour cost per hour in Bulgaria?
Labour cost per hour worked in Bulgaria was €12.0 in 2025, the lowest among the countries compared. The figures were €13.6 in Romania, €19.1 in Poland, €19.8 in Czechia, €34.9 for the EU average and €45.0 in Germany.
What skills does the Bulgarian workforce have?
ICT specialists made up 4.8% of employment in Bulgaria in 2025, close to the EU average of 5.0%. In 2025, 40.5% of people aged 25 to 34 had a degree and 48,100 students graduated. Half of upper-secondary vocational students study engineering, manufacturing or other technical subjects.
What permits do non-EU workers need to work in Bulgaria?
Non-EU staff need an EU Blue Card or a single work and residence permit to work in Bulgaria. Citizens of other EU countries can work in Bulgaria without a permit.
Sources
- 24 Chasa: Working-age population and people in work, 2025 (NSI and NSSI data, in Bulgarian)
- Eurostat: Euro area unemployment, August 2026
- Economic.bg: Labour market in Q2 2025 (NSI Labour Force Survey)
- European Commission: Digital Decade 2026 country report, Bulgaria (PDF)
- Eurostat: Number of ICT specialists in the EU continues to grow (2025)
- European Commission: Education and Training Monitor, Bulgaria
- Dnevnik: Most new graduates hold business degrees (NSI, in Bulgarian)
- Eurostat: Labour cost levels by country, 2025 (lc_lci_lev)
- BTA: Average wage of €1,444 in Q2 2026 (NSI)
- BTA: Bulgaria’s population fell to 6.42 million in 2025 (NSI, in Bulgarian)
Figures checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
