BIA predicts a new negative impact on the labour market

There is real danger that the predicted second wave of the global crisis will have a new negative impact on the labour market in Bulgaria. Therefore, it is necessary that appropriate solutions be sought in order for the risk of deterioration in this field to be minimised, showed data from the analysis of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) released yesterday.

Currently, there are two disturbing trends on the labour market in our country. There is a constant decline in the number of the active population and a parallel increase in the unemployed labour force. Between the last two censuses, our population decreased by 564,331 people, and demographic problems and the crisis led to a substantial reduction in the number of active Bulgarians between 15 and 64 years of age. The highest peak in the number of the workforce was recorded in 2008 – 3. 504 mln people, and then a stable declining trend became noticeable. In the second quarter of 2011 alone, the active population decreased by over 42,000 people on an annual basis.

In the last two years, the decline in employment was substantial as well, compared to the EU average, against the background of the respective figures in countries with debt problems such as Greece, Ireland and Spain. Despite the growth of the number of jobs in the public sector, a decline of 6.2% in the number of existing and new jobs was recorded. In 24 months, the number of jobs fell by 262,868, the number of employees - by 319,600, of employed persons - by 287,300, and of self- insured persons - by about 36,000 people. At the same time, low-quality jobs are being offered under programmes of the National Employment Agency for temporary and unskilled employment, stated experts from the Bulgarian Industrial Association. There is bloated and inefficient public administration, added the analysts. According to BIA, some 42% of the companies are facing difficulties in finding suitable people for key positions and there is a chronic shortage of doctors, nurses, orderlies, and IT specialists on the labour market.

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