In the first quarter of 2012, the employed people in Bulgaria were over 3.2 million and the economic activity index totaled 51.8%, according to Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI).

In the same period, the unemployment rate was 12.9%, or over 420 000 people without jobs, of them over 250 000 men and around 170 000 women.

The lowest rate of employment among Bulgaria's six regions was registered in the northwest region (Vidin, Vratsa, Lovetch, Montana, Pleven), with 280 000 employed out of a total population of 840 000.

The highest rate of employment was registered in the southwestern region (Sofia-city, Sofia-district, Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil and Pernik) – around 850 000 employed out of a total population of nearly 2 million.

According to an analysis of Eurostat of regional employment in the EU, the employment rate in the age group 20-64 increased from 66% in 2000 to 70.4% in 2008.

Declines were registered in the next two years – the rate reached 69% in 2009 and 68.5% in 2010.

The highest rates of employment in the EU were registered in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and the UK and, to a lesser extent, Denmark and Finland, with an employment rate of over 75%.

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