Bulgaria jobless rate stays among EU’s lowest

Bulgaria anticipates maintaining a 3.6 percent unemployment rate in 2026, substantially below the European Union average of 6 percent, according to budget projections and Eurostat figures positioning the country among the bloc’s best performers. Regional disparities remain pronounced, with Sofia recording joblessness under 2 percent while northwestern districts including Vidin, Montana and Vratsa, exceed 10 percent.

Employment Agency data reveal that coastal cities Varna and Burgas register rates slightly above 3 percent. Labor officials in Vratsa, where 1,400 people seek work, attribute elevated unemployment in smaller settlements to limited employer presence and inadequate transportation infrastructure. Recruitment specialists note that northwestern Bulgaria struggles to attract investment due to workforce qualification gaps.

Economists project modest wage increases for 2026 as economic expansion decelerates, though salary growth should outpace inflation. The average monthly compensation continues rising despite reduced pressure from price increases.