Bulgaria faces EU's most severe labour shortage, survey shows

Bulgaria is the EU country where employers face the greatest difficulties in finding qualified staff, with 40% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) describing the process as "very difficult", compared with an EU average of 24%, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. A further 18% of Bulgarian SMEs described recruitment as 'rather difficult'. The fewest hiring problems were reported in the Netherlands, according to Brussels correspondent Angelina Piskova.

The survey found that only 2% of Bulgarian SMEs had tried to recruit workers from other EU countries, while 7% had sought employees from non-EU states. Among companies that had hired workers from outside the EU, 51% described the recruitment process as difficult, compared with an EU average of 54%.

• Eurostat: Bulgaria has the lowest minimum wage in the EU

Bulgarian companies most frequently sought non-EU workers for plumbing, heating, ventilation and metalworking jobs, accounting for 18% of recruitment efforts. This was followed by drivers and transport operators at 14%, then information and communication technology specialists and skilled construction workers at 12% each, and electrical and electronics engineers at 11%.

The main obstacles cited by Bulgarian employers included lengthy administrative and immigration procedures, difficulties integrating workers into company culture, problems finding suitable candidates, language barriers, and the recognition of qualifications and skills.

The survey was conducted between 1 and 17 December 2025 among 12,900 SMEs across the EU, including 503 in Bulgaria.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova