20.10.2023

15,200 YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE SUPPORTED TO ENTER THE LABOR MARKET THROUGH THE NEW "YOUTH EMPLOYMENT +" PROJECT

15,200 inactive or unemployed youth will be supported to enter the labor market through the activities of the "Youth Employment +" project of the "Human Resources Development" Program 2021-2027. The project is a continuation of the "New Opportunity for Youth Employment" project implemented by the Employment Agency in the previous program period of the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" 2014-2020.

Its main goal is to increase the competitiveness of young people aged 16 to 29 inclusively by providing an opportunity for an internship, on-the-job training, employment or inclusion in training to acquire "soft" skills with an employer. This will facilitate the transition of young people from education to employment and allow them to gain valuable work experience needed to fill job vacancies claimed by employers.

The new "Youth Employment+" project is implemented by the Employment Agency as a specific beneficiary. From 02.10.2023, the reception of requests from employers for inclusion in the Project began. Requests should be submitted using a template through the Secure Electronic Delivery System.

Under the "Youth Employment+" project, financed under the "Human Resources Development" Program 2021-2027, support can be given to young people involved in the "New Opportunity for Youth Employment" project, financed under the "Human Resources Development" Operational Program 2014- 2020, who have not reached the maximum duration of employment foreseen according to the concluded employment contracts. Funding under the current project for them will only cover the remaining period until the maximum support period is reached, if this period is at least three months or more. For the remaining period, employers must apply for inclusion in the "Youth Employment+" project with an up-to-date application. Employment contracts already concluded with persons employed under the "New Opportunity for Youth Employment" project must not be terminated.

"Youth Employment+" will provide support to inactive or unemployed youth through:

• Trainings for the acquisition of transferable and "soft" skills through key competencies "Personal and social competence and learning skills" and "Initiative and entrepreneurship";
• Internship with an employer, for a period of 6 to 9 months;
• On-the-job training, with a duration of no more than 6 months;
• Employment of unemployed and inactive youth for a period of up to 9 months;
• Provision of incentives for employers in cases of concluding an open-ended employment contract with young intern to occupy a position corresponding to the intern's qualifications, and for the same or more favorable remuneration;
• Provision of funds for public transport to and from the youth's workplace for the first month of the internship/on-the-job training/subsidized period of employment.

The total financial assistance under the Project is BGN 188 million. It is expected to involve 15,200 inactive or unemployed youth, of which 9,120 will remain employed by the same employer after the completion of the operation. The project will be implemented until 31.12.2027.

You will find additional information about employers and inactive or unemployed persons in the labor offices throughout the country, as well as on the official website of the Employment Agency under the banner "Human Resources Development" Program 2021-2027.