“By 2015, a shortage of 700,000 specialists is expected in the EU, which is a prerequisite for the outflow of qualified staff from Bulgaria” said Executive Chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) Bojidar Danev.

"The main problem which the Bulgarian economy faces is not just unemployment but the closing down of qualified jobs, while those with low value added are on the rise," said Danev during the presentation of a new information system for assessment of competency. According to BIA, some 60% of the working population is employed in the security, trade, agriculture and public sectors, while the number of those who work in production is declining.

Danev warned that the Employment Agency is again creating labour force of poor quality through its programmes. It provides only basic skills, while the economy needs engineers and specialists.

According to BIA, the majority of problems which Bulgaria faces in terms of the quality of the workforce is due to the lack of correlation between primary, secondary and higher education.