Papers of BAS

Papers of BAS. Humanities and Social Sciences

Vol. 12, 2025, No. 2

Labour market gaps in the context of the green transition in Bulgaria

and the role of third-country nationals

Rumiana Jeleva, Kamelia Petkova, Markus Kaiser

Abstract. This article examines the role of third-country nationals in addressing labour market shortages in Bulgaria in the context of the green transition. Against the backdrop of demographic decline and structural labour shortages, the study explores whether and under what conditions third-country workers are perceived as a resource for sustainable economic transformation. The analysis combines official administrative data with evidence from a nationally representative quantitative survey conducted among 800 employers across key economic sectors. The findings reveal a dual dynamic. While administrative data indicate a growing reliance on third-country nationals, including an increase in long-term permits, employers’ perceptions remain shaped by labour market segmentation. Most employers associate third-country workers with temporary or low-skilled positions, and only a small share consider them capable of contributing substantially to green industries. The article argues that without coordinated policies linking labour migration, skills development and employer engagement, third-country nationals are likely to remain a short-term compensatory workforce rather than an integral part of Bulgaria’s green transition.

Keywords: third-country nationals, green transition, employers’ attitudes, labour market segmentation