Main challenges

Bulgaria’s young people face challenges that can hinder their full participation in society. These challenges are due to some economic, educational, social, and political factors. 

1. Economic and employment barriers

• Youth unemployment: Despite gradual improvements in the broader economy, many young Bulgarians experience difficulties to find stable, quality employment. A mismatch between skills acquired in education and labor market needs further exacerbates this issue.
• Informal work and underemployment: Some youth are pushed into informal or part-time jobs, which often offer limited career growth and social security benefits.

2. Educational and skill development challenges

• Educational system limitations: The education system sometimes struggles to provide modern, market-relevant skills. Limited investment in technology, modern teaching methods, and infrastructure can result in lower quality of education.
• Mismatch of skills: Sometimes a mismatch exists between the competencies developed by young people and the evolving demands of the job market, which contributes to underemployment and unemployment.

3. Social and cultural inclusion issues

• Marginalization of minority youth: Young people from ethnic minorities (mainly from Roma community) sometimes face discrimination and social exclusion, limiting their access to quality education, employment opportunities, and community participation.
• Urban–rural division: Youth in rural areas may have fewer educational, cultural, and employment opportunities compared to those in urban centers. This geographic division contributes to unequal opportunities for social inclusion.
• Digital divide: Although internet penetration has improved, not all young people have equal access to digital tools and the internet, which can restrict their ability to engage in modern economic and social activities.

4. Political and civic participation

• Low political engagement: Many young people feel disconnected from traditional political processes, which can lead to political apathy or disinterest.
• Limited youth representation: Young people sometimes have limited representation in decision-making bodies, which can result in policies that do not fully address their needs or potential contributions to society.

Main concepts

In Bulgaria, social inclusion is understood as the process of creating conditions that enable all individuals, particularly those from vulnerable or marginalized groups, to participate fully in economic, social, and cultural life. 

The Bulgarian government has formalized its commitment to social inclusion through the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion 2030 (Национална стратегия за намаляване на бедността и насърчаване на социалното включване с хоризонт 2030). This strategy outlines the vision, objectives, and measures aimed at reducing poverty and enhancing social inclusion in Bulgaria by 2030. Specifically, Bulgaria has set a national target to reduce the number of individuals at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 787,000 people by 2030, with a sub-target focusing on reducing child poverty by 196,750 individuals. 

Additionally, the Social and Solidarity Economy Entities Act (Закон за предприятията на социалната и солидарна икономика) (effective from 2 May 2019, last supplement of 25 February 2020) provides a legal definition of social economy entities in Bulgaria. It establishes a legal basis for promoting enterprises that prioritize social objectives over pure profit-making, thereby reinforcing the broader concept of social inclusion within economic activities. The Act defines social and solidary economy as a form of entrepreneurship aimed at one or more social activities and/or social goals, carried out by enterprises, including through the manufacturing of various goods or the provision of services, either in cooperation with state or local authorities, or independently. 

The Ordinance on Inclusive Education (Наредба за приобщаващото образование) (effective from 27 October 2017, last amendment and supplement of 6 August 2024) defines inclusive education as a process of recognizing, accepting and supporting the individuality of each child or student and the diversity of needs of all children and students through the activation and inclusion of resources aimed at removing obstacles to teaching and learning and at creating opportunities for the development and participation of children and students in all aspects of community life.