According to monthly data about June 2014, the level of unemployment was lowest since 2003. Currently over 350,000 (10.7%) jobless are registered at the employment offices in Bulgaria. However, the problem regarding youth unemployment is still quite serious - over 58,000 young people aged 29 or under are registered at the employment offices. The Youth Employment Scheme under the Human Development Operational Programme 2014-2020 provides opportunities for progress in this field. Some EUR 17 million were allotted in support of the young Bulgarians under this programme. Initially EUR 10 million will be allotted from the national budget. Later, this money will be reimbursed by the European Commission. This financial instrument will allow some 7,500 young Bulgarians join various probations and trainings in a real working environment. The projects for the so-called temporary youth employment provide the opportunity for the trainee to acquire skills and knowledge during the six-month training course in a given field. Young people can practice in accordance with their university majors, or in different spheres. What are the specific features of the six-month training courses that do not correspond to the university major? Radio Bulgaria talked to Executive Director of the Bulgarian Employment Agency Assen Angelov:

“In that case, the programme requires from the employer to appoint a given mentor or instructor who works at the company. His task is to introduce the young person into the work specifics. These employees also receive remuneration, yet a low one.”

So far, some 3,700 people joined the online survey made with Bulgarian employers. They said they were ready to sign contracts with young Bulgarians as early as September. It is interesting to note, that counter to expectations, Sofia is not the leading city in this programme. It turned out that the northwestern Bulgarian region known for its poverty in the whole of Europe tops the survey, followed by Pazardjik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Burgas and other cities. Highest demand was registered in the service sector (barmen, waitresses, sales assistants, etc), followed by the industry, the construction and the metallurgy. Only 10% of the polled employers demand a master’s degree from their future employees. Most of them need personnel with a high-school degree. 15% of the companies which participated at the research said they needed applicants with bachelor’s degree. Why then employers are to compete for fresh work force? The answer is simple. Europe provides the money for salaries under these programmes. How much Europe will pay and how this money will be distributed in Bulgaria?

“This programme has a total budget of EUR 17.5 million which is to be fulfilled in 2014 and 2015 and we hope that we will manage to help at least 8,000 young Bulgarian join probations and training courses through the activity and the assistance of the Bulgarian employers”, Assen Angelov further explains.

Most jobless young people say they did not benefit from such programmes due to the lack of sufficient information. For example second-grader Teodora Ilieva who studies at the Saint Kliment Ohridski University says that she has heard of such programmes, but is not acquainted in details. Otherwise, she would benefit from them. Here is the opinion of another Bulgarian student:

“My name is Maria Ivanova and I am a second grader at the University of Architecture in Sofia. I am to become a construction engineer and I hope that I will later work as a design engineer. I do not work at present and I have never applied for a job at the employment office, because of the slow system in this country and the lack of information”

English version: Kostadin Atanasov