EU HIRE INSIGHTS
Labour market monitoring
Data and trends for workforce planning.
What we monitor
01
Labour shortages
We monitor which sectors face the greatest staffing shortages and when international recruitment can offer a practical solution.
02
Demand by sector
We analyse developments in manufacturing, construction, logistics, tourism, agriculture and the other sectors EU HIRE serves.
03
Non-EU workers
We monitor available data on the foreign workforce, countries of origin and developments in international employment in Bulgaria.
04
International recruitment
We analyse which markets and candidate profiles may best suit an employer’s specific needs.
New research
Labour market analysis and data
Non-EU workers in Bulgaria in 2026: what the data shows
International hiring continues to grow. Data from the first months of 2026 shows a further increase in worker numbers, changes in the leading recruitment countries and the significant role of seasonal employment.
Key findings
- 28 000+admitted to the labour market by the end of May
- Uzbekistan No.17,728 people as of 25 May
- 50%+of the current flow relates to seasonal employment
Non-EU workers in Bulgaria: how labour migration changed between 2019 and 2025
EU HIRE’s historical analysis shows a clear change after 2021: from relatively stable levels of around 2,400–2,500 permits annually to 12,596 in 2025.
Key findings
- 5×+growth compared with levels at the start of the period
- 2022the turning point in the trend
- 12 596first permits issued for employment in 2025
From data to action
Data matters when it informs decisions
Our experts do more than compile statistics. We analyse how market trends affect recruitment country selection, candidate profiles, staffing numbers and the organisation of international hiring.
EU HIRE uses this analysis when working with employers seeking non-EU staff.
We work with: official statistics · institutional data · employer feedback · verifiable market sources
Where we use our own observations or information from employer discussions, we identify it clearly.
Looking for non-EU workers?
Apply EU HIRE Insights expertise to your own recruitment.
Our team can help identify a suitable recruitment market, candidate profile and the next steps in the process.