28.05.2024

A TEN-YEAR FORECAST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LABOR MARKET WILL BE PREPARED ACCORDING TO A PROJECT OF THE MLSP

Updated forecasts for the development of the labor market according to an advanced methodology, which will represent the demand for labor in a ten-year period, will be prepared under the project of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy "Addressing the challenges of the labor market" BG05SFPR002-1.015 - 0001. The forecasts will provide information on labor market challenges, expected labor demand and expected labor market imbalances. A nationally representative survey will also be conducted among employers in the country to determine the emerging and disappearing professions and jobs, as well as the search for new skills related to the digital and ecological transition. The complementary information on expected labor market changes from the forecasts and the survey will support action to improve the targeting of education, training and employment policies.

Estimates of the net effect of the ongoing active labor market policy, financed with funds from the state budget, are also planned to be prepared under the project, which is financed under the "Human Resources Development" Program 2021 - 2027, co-financed by the European Union. The results of the assessments will support the process of planning and implementing the active labor market policy and directing resources to highly effective measures and programs.

The project also includes conducting a study to identify and map the available skills and attitudes for development of those working in thermal power plants and coal mines affected by the low-carbon transition in the regions of Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik. The information collected will serve employers to develop, plan and provide appropriate measures for career support and upskilling and retraining and development of workforce skills.

Partners of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy on the project, which has a budget of BGN 3.7 million, are the National Statistical Institute, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, the Confederation of Labor "Podkrepa" and the Employment Agency. The main goal of the activities carried out under it is to increase the effectiveness and purposefulness of the active labor market policy, as well as to improve the information provision of the decision-making process in the field of the labor market.