Asen Angelov, Executive Director of Bulgaria’s Employment Agency, has underscored the inefficiency of labor market policy, drawing attention to the fact that they have remained unchanged for over eight years and have only had a temporary effect.

In a Monday interview for 24 Hours daily, Angelov explains that nearly 400 000 people have undergone various trainings but the impact on the labor market has been rather insignificant both in terms of labor productivity and sustainability.

He notes that the mismatch between the skill demand of employers and the skill supply of the unemployed persists, which means that the impact of the funds invested in the sphere is questionable.

Angelov suggests that employment programs are inadequately targeted and also condemns the lack of planning as regards investments in the sphere.

To illustrate his point, he says that the number of unemployed in the most vulnerable groups, including people aged 50+, people with primary or pre-primary education, long-term unemployed, and permanently disabled, has been growing for the past eight years, despite the availability of employment programs.