Bulgaria’s Vocational Education Reform Targets Skills Shortages and Youth Jobs

Bulgaria has launched a major reform to modernise its vocational education system, aiming to better align training with labour market needs through updated curricula, stronger industry partnerships and expanded workplace learning. An OECD evaluation finds the reforms promising but notes challenges in implementation, industry participation and long-term funding sustainability.

Bulgaria has launched a major effort to modernise its vocational education system in an attempt to bridge the growing gap between classroom training and labour market needs. A recent evaluation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), conducted with Bulgaria’s Ministry of Education and Science and the Executive Agency “Programme Education,” examines the early progress of the Modernisation of Vocational Education and Training project. The initiative, launched in 2023 and scheduled to run until 2029, is funded through the European Social Fund Plus along with Bulgaria’s national budget. With a total budget of about €47 million, the reform aims to update vocational curricula, improve teaching quality and strengthen cooperation between schools and employers.

Vocational education plays a key role in Bulgaria’s education system. More than half of upper secondary students are enrolled in vocational tracks. However, the system has struggled for years to keep pace with changing economic demands. Employers frequently report difficulty finding workers with the right skills, particularly in sectors such as information technology, engineering and healthcare. At the same time, many graduates from vocational schools end up working in fields unrelated to their training. These trends highlight a mismatch between what students learn in school and the skills needed in the labour market.

Long-Standing Challenges in the System

Several structural issues have contributed to the gap between vocational education and employment needs. For many years, the official list of professions used in vocational training remained largely unchanged, allowing outdated programmes to continue even as industries evolved. This meant that some schools trained students for jobs with little demand, while emerging sectors struggled to find qualified workers.

Practical training opportunities have also been limited. Although vocational programmes include workplace placements, these are often short and do not always provide meaningful real-world experience. Another challenge is the ageing teaching workforce. Many vocational teachers are approaching retirement age, and opportunities for them to update their technical knowledge through industry experience have been limited.

These factors have affected how vocational education is perceived by students and parents. Many young people see vocational education as a second choice compared to academic pathways. As a result, students sometimes enter vocational tracks without strong interest in the professions they study, which can affect motivation and learning outcomes.

A New Strategy to Connect Schools and Industry

The modernisation project aims to address these challenges by creating stronger links between education and the labour market. One of the most important changes is the creation of Sectoral Skills Councils. These councils bring together employers, teachers, higher education experts, trade unions and professional associations. Their role is to identify skills needed in different industries and help shape vocational education policies and programmes.

Through these councils, labour market actors can participate directly in discussions about vocational standards and training requirements. This is intended to ensure that vocational education reflects real workplace needs and that training programmes keep pace with technological and economic changes.

The project also introduces other reforms designed to strengthen cooperation between schools and businesses. For example, professionals from industry can now participate in vocational teaching, giving students direct exposure to current workplace practices. Schools are also encouraged to expand student placements in companies so that learners gain hands-on experience before entering the workforce.

Updating the List of Professions

Another key element of the reform is the revision of Bulgaria’s national List of Professions for vocational education. Previously, the system included hundreds of narrow specialisations. The new framework simplifies this structure by grouping occupations into broader professional categories.

This shift is designed to make vocational programmes more flexible. Instead of training students for highly specific jobs at an early age, the new system focuses on broader skill sets that can be applied across related occupations. Students can then specialise later in their careers as industries evolve.

The revised list also places greater emphasis on professions linked to digital technologies and environmentally sustainable industries. This reflects the growing importance of digital transformation and green economic development across Europe.

Early Progress and Future Challenges

The OECD evaluation finds that the modernisation project is well aligned with Bulgaria’s economic priorities and has been welcomed by many stakeholders. Schools appreciate initiatives that bring industry professionals into classrooms, while employers value efforts to ensure training reflects real labour market needs.

However, the reform also faces challenges. Recruiting industry experts to participate in the Sectoral Skills Councils has sometimes been difficult, particularly in sectors where professionals have limited time to engage in education policy discussions. Tight deadlines for revising vocational standards and curricula have also created pressure for those responsible for implementing the changes.

Another concern is sustainability. Many activities, including expanded student placements, rely on European funding. Ensuring that these initiatives continue after the current funding period will require long-term financial planning and stable institutional arrangements.

Despite these challenges, the evaluation suggests that the reform has created an important foundation for change. By updating vocational standards, strengthening cooperation with industry and expanding practical learning opportunities, Bulgaria is taking steps toward building a more responsive vocational education system. If the reforms continue to develop successfully, vocational education could become a stronger pathway to employment and economic growth in the years ahead.