More and more citizens of countries outside the European Union are choosing Bulgaria as a place to work and live, NOVA reported.
According to data from the Employment Agency, the number of people from third countries who have gained access to the Bulgarian labor market has been growing steadily since the COVID crisis. In the last year alone, the increase has been over 40 percent.
The main reason for this growth is the shortage of personnel in key sectors such as construction, transport, tourism and industry. The presence of workers from countries such as Pakistan, Nepal and Uzbekistan is already a common sight, especially during the active summer tourist season. However, Bulgaria is increasingly turning out to be not just a place to earn income, but a new home.
This is the case with Steven – A 33-year-old citizen of Northern Ireland, who has been living in Bulgaria for six years. His first visit to our country was in 2012 for work, but the country impressed him and remained in his heart. After years of living and working in South Africa, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Germany, it is the Balkans that attracts him the most.
During the pandemic, Stephen and his wife decided to move permanently to Bulgaria. He found a job, made friends and felt accepted. According to him, the people here are open and curious, and life in Sofia gives him a sense of home. Today, the family plans to stay in the country permanently and even build their own house.
Behind the personal stories are also specific numbers. The Employment Agency indicates that over 49,000 third-country nationals have been admitted to the Bulgarian labor market in the last year. According to the institution, this process is necessary to fill the vacancies and does not harm Bulgarian workers. In parallel, the state is also working on the return of Bulgarians from abroad through special programs for reintegration into the labor market.