Unemployment and working in Bulgaria
Five years ago, the Bulgarian jobs market was in a sorry state and nearly one in five of the workforce was unemployed. The economy has since picked up and nearly 90% of the adult population is now working in Bulgaria. Although unemployment is falling and the number of jobs in Bulgaria is rising, foreigners are restricted from working in Bulgaria without a permit and usually experience difficulty in finding a job.
What you do if you lose your Bulgarian job
You should be aware that if you have been working in Bulgaria without residence status ie on a worker´s permit, your right to work expires along with the job.
For whatever reason your Bulgarian job comes to an end, you should register at the National Employment Agency (NEA). The local NEA office can help you find out about vacant jobs in Bulgaria and will be able to give you advice about your entitlement to unemployment benefit.
When you first start working in Bulgaria, your employer will register you in the social security system and pays in the 0.5% Employment Fund contributions deducted from your salary. Those who lose their jobs in Bulgaria are entitled to benefits provided they have made at least nine months of contributions immediately prior to their claim.
Unemployment benefit is calculated at 60% of your average earnings over the previous nine months. The duration of payment depends on how long your job in Bulgaria (and your unbroken period of contribution) lasted. It ranges from four months of payment if you have been working in Bulgaria for up to three years, to twelve months of payment if you have been working in Bulgaria for more than 25 years.
Finding Bulgarian jobs
Be realistic about working in Bulgaria. Only a limited number of Bulgarian jobs are going to be open to someone who does not speak the language. However, this may be less of a problem in tourist resorts and in areas where a large number of ex-pats are concentrated.
The process of searching for a Bulgarian job is similar to the UK. You can write off to an employer or apply for Bulgarian jobs advertised in the local press or online. The local NEA office may also know of vacancies.
Unemployed in the UK and thinking of working in Bulgaria
At present, there are no official sources of information in the UK about jobs in Bulgaria. This may change when Bulgaria becomes an EU member.
If you are unemployed in the UK and are thinking of working in Bulgaria, you may be able to continue receiving Jobseekers Allowance for up to three months following relocation. You will not be entitled to receive Bulgarian unemployment benefit.
How about working in Bulgaria for yourself?
In the absence of a great choice of jobs in Bulgaria, many people who relocate decide to start a business in Bulgaria and work for themselves. This can be a good move, but you will need to understand local business practices at the very least.
Finding jobs in Bulgaria can be tough - particularly for foreigners thinking of working in Bulgaria. Bulgarian jobs can be found, but without a reasonable command of the language, they tend to be restricted to only certain industries and the larger Bulgarian cities.
