Manpower Bulgaria and NYF Bulgaria unite to bridge youth and business for sustainable employment

Manpower Bulgaria realised another strategic partnership, this time with National Youth Forum Bulgaria - the largest platform for youth organisations in the country, uniting over 30 structures. This collaboration is part of Manpower's broader strategy to build a bridge between the youth sector and the business environment, with a focus on the long-term employment and professional development of young people in Bulgaria.

The National Youth Forum is very active in the field of civic participation, youth policy advocacy and soft skills development through its National Youth Academy. The organisation works with young people aged 18 to 29 and has developed training modules, advocacy campaigns and opportunities to participate in European programmes.

Manpower Bulgaria, for its part, brings its long-standing expertise in human resources, career counselling and labour market analysis. It is this combination of expertise and access to youth networks that is the basis for future joint projects and activities.

Youth unemployment in Bulgaria is almost three times higher than the overall unemployment - according to Eurostat, in February 2025 the overall unemployment in Bulgaria is 3.9%, but among young people (15-24 years) it reaches 10.1%. This shows a serious imbalance between the needs of the labour market and the training of young people.

Another key problem is demographic pressure. According to forecasts, by 2044 nearly half of the country's workforce will be over 55 years old. This reinforces the need for active integration of young people to take up the baton in the country's economy and administration.

The cooperation between Manpower Bulgaria and the NYF Bulgaria aims precisely to address these challenges through concrete and measurable actions:

• Training and counselling - providing career guidance, training in soft and professional skills and connecting youth with real business opportunities.
• Research and analysis - joint research on the needs of young people and the business environment to inform policy and programme design.
• Public campaigns and support for young people - amplifying the voice of young people through Manpower's media and digital channels, and engaging in public debates on the future of youth and work. 

This partnership is a strategic and sustainable response to the real needs of the country's youth and businesses. By combining the expertise of both organisations, we have the opportunity to build an effective model for career guidance, activation and integration of young people into the economy and society.