site.btaSkilled Staff Shortage Hampers Bulgarian Software Business -Survey

Sofia, November 28 (BTA) - According to a survey on the software industry, 58 per cent of Bulgarians have access to the Internet, but nearly two-thirds of them practically lack basic digital skills to be able to use the enormous opportunities of the web environment, Gergana Passy told a BTA-hosted news conference on Tuesday.

Passy, who now chairs the Digital National Alliance, previously held deputy minister and minister positions in two governments.

"The shortage of skilled staff prevents the software business from utilizing its full potential. Therefore, universities, businesses and the non-governmental sector must address the issue," Passy said. She argued that this industry can attract back home some of the Bulgarians who have opted to live abroad because of the higher pay.

A large part of the SMEs apparently have no digital presence. Bulgaria ranks 27th in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), and small and medium-sized enterprises are practically absent from online trade. The Digital National Alliance has the idea to organize the opening and closing of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council by 500 children programmers. This opening of the Presidency is planned to take place at the National Palace of Culture for January 6, 2018.

For its part, the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM) presented a survey conducted among leading ICT companies, showing that the Bulgarian software branch grew by a steady 14 per cent in 2016. "This is over treble Bulgaria's GDP growth," BASSCOM Chairman Stamen Kochkov commented. Export-oriented software companies generated a 19 per cent growth or 233 million leva in 2016. The industry paid 316 million leva in taxes last year, and the sector employed 22,700 people.

Over 90 per cent of the companies expect a 10 per cent-plus increase of their revenue in 2017.

Software specialists' standard of living, measured in terms of the purchasing power of their remuneration in Bulgaria, is not only catching up with the EU countries but also continues to exceed the level in countries like Britain, the survey found. The net monthly wage in the sector is 2,600 leva, and wages there are nearly quadruple the national average.