08.06.2023
WHAT ARE THE MAIN PROBLEMS OF BUSINESS IN OUR COUNTRY?
Lack of qualified personnel, dissatisfaction with the results in the fight against corruption and crime, as well as with regard to political and social stability in our country, are among the main problems indicated by business representatives in a survey on the business environment in Bulgaria, conducted by the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
A shortage of skilled labor was cited by companies as one of the biggest risks over the next 12 months at 66 percent, followed by labor costs at 61 percent, electricity prices at 45 percent and the economic policy framework at 42 percent.
When asked about the impact of the shortage of qualified personnel on business, 63 percent of respondents indicated the increase in labor costs, 45 percent noted that it will decrease production and supply of services. To mitigate the effects of the shortage of qualified personnel, 74 percent of companies intend to expand the scope of their in-house training, 59 percent to increase digitalization, 55 percent anticipate increasing wages above the market average, 49 percent are considering strengthening their cooperation with educational institutions .
Regarding the cost of labor, 42 percent of companies say they are satisfied or very satisfied. Only 14 percent are satisfied with the quality of academic education and 15 percent with the quality of professional education, the poll shows.
In connection with solving the problem of the lack of personnel in our country, Mitko Vassilev said that the Management Board of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce has decided that the Chamber will prepare and implement various initiatives this year and next year, dedicated to the focal topic " Specialists and talents for prosperity and growth".
The data also show that 17 percent of the respondents assess the current economic situation in Bulgaria as good, 68 percent define it as satisfactory. 25 percent of the companies believe that the development of the Bulgarian economy will improve this year compared to the previous one, 52 percent do not expect any change.
84 percent of respondents say they are very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the fight against corruption and crime, and much more is needed.
In the assessment of the factors "legal certainty" and "transparency of public procurement", "rather dissatisfied" and "very dissatisfied" are respectively 53 percent and 75 percent of those who participated in the survey.
According to the poll, trust in public administration remains unchanged from 2022, where 11 percent are satisfied. 51 percent say they are very dissatisfied with the political and social stability in our country. Regarding the factor "predictability of economic policy", the level of satisfaction is 7 percent "satisfied" and 28 percent "average satisfied", the poll shows. Regarding the "tax burden" criterion, 70 percent are satisfied.
The survey shows even greater satisfaction of companies with Bulgaria's membership in the EU - 86 percent. The positive attitude towards the introduction of the single European currency is also increasing - 81 percent of the respondents answered that they want the introduction of the euro compared to 55 percent in 2022. 94 percent of the companies approve of our country's accession to Schengen.
