Despite the government’s emergency measures for financial support in a number of sectors, the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus crisis are already visible at employment offices, judging by the fact that queues have formed in front of them.

Iztok employment office in Sofia, which is in charge of 250,000 people who are actively involved in the work process, has registered a 50% increase in the number of unemployment declarations submitted over the past few days. According to Employment Agency data 12,660 people have been registered during the week, 10,000 of whom point to COVID-19 as the reason why they were laid off.

According to Eurostat data, in February the unemployment rate in Bulgaria stood at 4.1% for the second month running. Such an unemployment rate placed the country in 9^th position among the EU member countries with the lowest unemployment levels.