Unemployment decreased by 0.3% at the end of the year, the Employment Agency reports. 10,200 people were officially unemployed at the end of November. If in 2023 there were 156 thousand and 600 people on the stock exchange, then in the past year their number dropped to 146 thousand and 400 people.
And if the overall unemployment rate is low, there are still spots on the map of Bulgaria where people without income from work are the majority.
The first place is the municipality of Dimovo, near Vidin, with over 66% unemployment.
The top three are also the municipality of Kaynardzha, near Silistra, with over 43%, as well as Makresh, again near Vidin, also 43%.
Mihaela has 12 years of work experience as a cook and baker. She is currently on the stock exchange and is looking for work in the region. She shares that the amount of the benefit is not enough for her.
“You can't take 930 leva from the minimum wage, which is not enough for absolutely anything, and the benefit is 500-600 leva, which in no way can ensure even the most basic things in the household. For 12 years, I have been taking about 500 leva per month“, she also shares.
According to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute, the average amount of unemployment benefit in our country is 715 leva, practically the same as what those working on a minimum wage receive. The highest compensation is received in Sofia - on average just over 957 leva per month, and the lowest in Vratsa - 586 leva.
The minimum benefit per day is 18 leva, and the maximum - 107 leva and 14 stotinki. The amount will remain the same next year, although the minimum wage will increase.
According to data from the National Statistical Institute, 35.2% of the unemployed manage to find a job within 5 months of entering the job market.