28.10.2021

WHY BULGARIANS ARE RELUCTANT TO MOVE FOR WORK

Are Bulgarians often inclined to change their professional role - to study and develop? Krassimira Brozig, Secretary General of the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training, commented on the topic.

"Vocational training could open many doors for people who have already left the education system, have or do not have a qualification. They can completely change the sector in which they work.

A 2020 study by the Agency showed that applicants for training in vocational development centers are not sufficiently informed about this possibility and do not know the financial mechanisms they could use.

There are currently over 900 licensed vocational training centers. They are all over the country."

What is the interest in the centers?

"The number of trained people for the last few years is about 80,000. About 20,000 of them acquire a certificate of professional qualification. Last year there was a decrease of about 10% due to restrictions on attendance.

There is the greatest interest in professions in the IT sector. This year there is also interest in professions in agriculture.

However, there are still very few people involved in vocational training, given the total population between the ages of 25 and 64, which is potentially the target group for vocational training centers."

One of the problems faced by VЕTCs is that often the unemployed are reluctant to start working farther from their place of residence, they would like to work somewhere close to home.

Usually in a small town there are one or two companies.

Before deciding what qualification to offer to the Labor Office directorates to offer to the unemployed, VЕTCs coordinate these needs with the companies located in the region. To a large extent, they work on behalf of enterprises.

Why Bulgarians are reluctant to move for work?

There have been many conversations with the people being trained. First, they like to live in their own home, they are reluctant to move to another city to pay rent. If they move, it won't be because of work.

What everyone is emphasizing is pay. They are looking for a job with better pay and better working conditions. Generally, people are looking for a job that is close to where they live.

There is often a big gap between what employers want as skilled workers and what the unemployed want.