site.btaBulgarian Business Needs Engineering Graduates, Electricians, Welders, and Turners, BCCI Survey Finds

Nearly 80% of business representatives in Bulgaria who participated in a survey conducted by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) reported a critical need for university graduates in engineering and technical sciences. Additionally, 22% indicated a demand for specialists in natural sciences, mathematics, and IT, while 19% pointed to social, economic, and legal sciences. About 60% of respondents emphasized the need for skilled workers with secondary education, including technical personnel, electricians, welders, machine operators, mechanics, technicians, turners, sales staff, waiters, tailors, and plumbing specialists, among others. The survey results were shared in an interview with BTA by BCCI President Tsvetan Simeonov.

The 2025 edition of the annual survey was conducted between January 29 and February 5. It is related to the Council of Ministers' draft decision confirming on the number of students and doctoral candidates to be admitted to state universities and research institutions for the 2025/2026 academic year.

BCCI gathers data on workforce needs in specific professional fields and complements it with survey questions on the necessity of specialists with secondary education, as well as an assessment of the skills and knowledge of graduates, Simeonov explained.

The highest indicative demand reported by businesses was for university graduates in healthcare and sports (over 500 professionals needed), engineering and technical sciences (over 360), agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine (over 70), and defence and security (over 30), according to the survey results.

Additionally, 90% of respondents stated that graduates in Bulgaria lack sufficient professional and practical skills. According to 44% of surveyed employers, graduates lack communication skills, while 36% pointed to deficiencies in basic economic knowledge. Only 18% of respondents rated the knowledge and skills of graduates as satisfactory.