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One of the main factors predetermining the discrepancy between vocational education and the profile of the economy is the underrepresented training through work in a real work environment (dual training). Of nearly 40,000 students who started their vocational education in the current school year, just over 3,000 are in a dual form of education. This is only 8% of the future specialists with an acquired professional qualification.

The Correspondence Index measures the relationship between vocational education and the profile of the Economy. The index shows vocational training by sector and compares it with the distribution of the labor force in different economic activities. In this way, it is possible to see both the structural coincidences and the deviations in the education provided in relation to the needs of the labor market. The calculations also allow to trace the relationship between education and the labor market at the regional level.

The municipalities of Varna and Burgas are recovering quickly from the effects of the crisis, which stopped the flow of tourists and foreigners for a year. However, there is a visible slowdown in investment activity and the labor market has not yet reached its pre-crisis levels. The educational structure is among the important obstacles to medium-term development, but demographic indicators and migration give cause for optimism.

In unison with the general processes, the economies of the municipalities along the Danube are experiencing an economic boom, driven here mainly by the good results of agriculture and a few limited industrial centers. With some small exceptions, however, they remain at a low level of economic development, and judging by the timid investment activity of recent years, there is little prospect of this changing in the near future.

Vocational education covers about half of all high school students and is offered in every district of the country and about 4/5 of all municipalities.

And in 2023, the demand for labor remains high, but highly unevenly distributed between the individual regions of the country and the various professions.

In 2022, the regions return to rapid economic growth led by manufacturing and energy. Investment activity is also accelerating in most parts of the country, but deep inequalities in the degree of economic development remain, and different growth rates threaten to further widen the gap between regions.