The national unemployment rate rose by 0.6% y/y, reaching 12.9% in 2013, reported the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The unemployment rate among men increased by 0.4% and by 1.0% among women, reaching 13.9% and 11.8% respectively.
46.9% оf the adult population (over 15 years of age) is employed. This corresponds to 2.93 million people. 2.89 million people between 15 and 64 have jobs. This corresponds to 59.5%, respectively 62.1% for men and 56.8% for women.
The employment rate among the population in the age group 20 - 64 is 63.5%, up by 0.5% y/y. The increase is almost the same for both genders, respectively 66.4% for men and 60.7% for women.
The employment rate among the population in the age group 55 - 64 is 47.4%, which is up 1.7% y/y. This corresponds to a rise of 2.1% for women and 1.1% for men, the NSI reports.
A total of 436,000 people in Bulgaria are unemployed, of whom 249,000 men and 186,000 women.
Experts with the institute explain that the unemployment rate among people between 15 and 24 is 28.4%, аnd 21.8% among people between 15 and 29. This corresponds to an increase of 0.3% and 1.0% y/y.
250,000 Bulgarians have been unemployed for over a year. This group accounts to 57.4% оf the total number of unemployed persons. Experts describe the rate of permanent unemployment, which is 7.4% (8.1% among men and 6.6% among women) as especially disconcerting.
206,000 people between 15 and 64 years of age are disinterested in employment according to data of the NSI.