Employers in Sofia plan a 10% to 20% increase in salaries by the end of the year, a study by the ManpowerGroup Bulgaria HR company states. The data are from the first of regular six-month surveys of the HR company for the planned changes in the amount of salaries and additional benefits. The results cover 12 different sectors, and 66% of the surveyed companies are based in Sofia.
The expected increase in salaries in Sofia is the largest for the country, and similar growth is expected in Burgas and Varna.
The management of the surveyed companies expects this measure to be applied to most employees, not only to specialists in specific positions. The HR company’s observations show that teleworking as a standard practice leads to a reduction in the pay gap between and outside the capital. The trend is most pronounced among intermediate and highly qualified specialists in information technology, outsourcing, business processes, and consulting.
IT, trade, tourism, healthcare and pharmacy, the automotive industry, and manufacturing are the sectors with the most significant expected increase in salaries and benefits.
These are also the areas with the most substantial demand for specialists. According to the survey, 49% of employers plan higher wages in the manufacturing sector, 44% in trade and information technology, and 58% in consulting. The data are based on the responses of the 513 enterprises in the survey from all regions in the country.
At the national level – 76% of companies do not plan significant changes in additional benefits and/or bonuses, but no reduction is expected – only 1% of respondents said they plan such. ManpowerGroup Bulgaria also pays attention to the so-called “flexi benefits” practice – a growing trend among top employers to offer dynamic packages with additional benefits that allow employees to modify their social bonuses depending on their current preferences and needs by choosing from a preliminary setlist. Employees receive this opportunity well because of the various options they can rely on every month according to their current plans and needs.
Examine more labor market trends in the full document “Salaries and additional benefits – trends” of ManpowerGroup Bulgaria.