site.btaGerman-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce President Discusses Skilled Labour Shortage

The shortage of skilled labour is the main challenge for many companies in Bulgaria as well as across Europe, said here on Monday Tim Kurth, President of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, at the opening of a conference on Specialists and Talents for Sustainable Business Development and an exhibition with companies organized by the Chamber.

This was also confirmed by 66 per cent of the participants in the Chamber's annual survey among its members this year, Kurth said. "There is no doubt that the work environment is changing dynamically and we need to adapt to it to stay competitive," Kurth said.

Germany's Ambassador to Bulgaria Irene Maria Plank highlighted three aspects of the issue related to the shortage of skilled labor. She focused on the structural changes affecting the coal industry in Bulgaria and noted the Chamber's initiative for a thematic meeting in Stara Zagora (a city and major coal region in south-central Bulgaria). Plank pointed out that Bulgaria could benefit from Germany's experience in its approach to the country's coal mining regions and the retraining of those employed there. The German Ambassador also focused on the opportunities to stimulate the workforce to participate in the formal labour market.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivanka Shalapatova said during the forum that one of the main priorities of the national employment policy is to improve the quality of the workforce in line with the needs of the economy. The Minister focused on the changes in the socio-economic development and the labour market in recent years.