Local Labour Market Forum in Varna
On the 30th of September, in the city of Varna was conducted a Local Labour Market Forum organised by BATTI under the framework of the ongoing regional cooperation project. The meeting brought together 12 representatives from key institutions, including universities, businesses, NGOs, and public authorities, with the shared goal of addressing pressing challenges in the local labour market and exploring pathways toward sustainable employment.
Building Bridges Between Education and Businesses.
Participants represented a diverse mix of institutions:
- Medical University of Varna
- University of Economics – Varna
- UBB Bank Varna
- VallMar Consult LTD
- “Karin Dom” Foundation
- CCEP Bulgaria LTD
- Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
The event served as an important platform for dialogue between academia, the private sector, and public institutions — a critical step toward aligning education, business needs, and employment policy. The forum provided an opportunity for exchanging experiences, identifying challenges, and co-designing practical approaches to improving the regional labour ecosystem.
Fostering Collaboration and Identifying Key Challenges
The meeting was designed to encourage dialogue, experience sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. Through presentations, interactive discussions, and self-assessment exercises, participants explored the current state of the labour market in Varna and discussed strategies for improvement.
A particularly impactful part of the session was when each institution shared its perspective on employment challenges. This discussion revealed common issues across sectors, such as skills mismatches, low motivation among job seekers, and limited practical experience for graduates.
Through the dialogue, the participants exchanged experiences, and they were able to identify shared priorities and opportunities for joint action, laying the groundwork for future cooperation between universities, businesses, NGOs, and government institutions to strengthen the local labour market.
Key Findings: A Shared Challenge and a Shared Responsibility
The discussion highlighted several systemic issues affecting the labour market in the Varna region:
- Low motivation among job seekers to pursue long-term employment opportunities.
- Unrealistic expectations of candidates regarding salaries and job conditions.
- Skill mismatch between what educational institutions teach and what employers actually need.
- Insufficient practical experience incorporated into university programs.
Participants concluded that overcoming these challenges requires joint action from all stakeholders — particularly from government authorities, which can play a pivotal role in policy coordination, vocational training, and youth employment programs. Emphasis was placed on social entrepreneurship as a modern and sustainable approach to job creation, enabling vulnerable groups to enter the workforce while addressing social needs.
Lessons Learned
The forum was designed as a participatory event, using a mix of discussion-based and interactive methods.
What worked well:
The open dialogue between institutions created a cooperative atmosphere that fostered mutual understanding and the exchange of practical ideas. The interactive discussions helped participants identify opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in the areas of youth skills development and business engagement.
What could be improved:
The vibrant discussions slightly exceeded the planned time, which reduced the duration of the final interactive session. Better time allocation and session moderation will help maintain balance in future meetings without limiting the exchange of ideas.
Looking Ahead
The Local Labour Market Forum in Varna reaffirmed the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue in addressing employment challenges. It also demonstrated that innovation and cooperation — between universities, businesses, and policymakers — are essential to building a more inclusive and adaptive labour market.
