site.bta953 Ukrainians Start Work in Bulgaria, February 24 - April 7

Between February 24 and April 7, a total of 953 Ukrainian nationals started work under an employment contract in Bulgaria, the Labour and Social Policy Ministry reported on Tuesday, citing data from the National Revenue Agency. During the same period, 616 employers sought to hire Ukrainian nationals via job centres across Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, mobile teams of the Employment Agency provided advice to 4,100 Ukrainians fleeing the war against Russia and updated them on the possibilities to access the Bulgarian labour market. A total of 1,228 of them filled out a questionnaire concerning their readiness to start work. Sixty-eight per cent of the latter group were ready to start work immediately, 18% were considering doing so between one and six months later, and 10% declared they would start work if there was someone to look after their children.

Two-thirds of the Ukrainians who filled out a questionnaire have higher education and 31% have secondary education. Only 3% have primary or lower education. Some 27% said they wanted to work as office secretaries, 25% as hotel administrators and 21% as chambermaids or valets. Other preferred occupations included restaurant or bar employee, shop assistant, computer operator, cashier, cook, and industrial worker.

During the period in review, employers in Bulgaria posted 4,407 job vacancies. The largest numbers of vacancies were in industry, electrical engineering, electronics, automatics, chemical technology, food technology, tourism and trade.

The Social Assistance Agency also provides assistance to Ukrainians fleeing the war. Between February 24 and April 12, social assistance directorates across Bulgaria granted one-off allowances of 375 leva to 3,147 Ukrainians who enjoyed temporary protection here. Payment of the allowances will begin on April 15.