In the first quarter of 2007 the number of employees in Bulgaria stands at 3 135 400 people, or 47.2% of the population 15 years of age or older. Employment rate in the period 1Q 2006 – 1Q 2007 increased greately, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) reports. The number of employees rose by 194,900, and employment rate – by 3.0 percentage points, as the highest was the increase of the employees in construction.

Unemployed persons in the first quarter of 2007 were 272,700 , or 8.0% of labour force. Their number has decreased by 42,500, or 1.7 percentage points, compared with the respective period in 2006.

According to a NSI business survey dated June 2007, 15.6% of industrial enterprises say labour shortage was the most important factor limiting their activity. In March 2007 the average monthly salary in Bulgaria was 396 leva (202.48 euros), or 4.2% above February, and16.5% up against March 2006.