Sofia continues to be the leading outsourcing center in Bulgaria and is one of the most attractive hubs in Southeast Europe. By 2024, over 650 companies operating in the capital, providing BPO, ITO and R&D services to the global market.
Outsourcing in Sofia
Rapid development
85000–90000
employees for 2024
~9% annual
average growth of the sector
650-660 companies
in Sofia for 2024
24000–26000
IT specialists in the capital
Number of companies and employees by sector
BPO (Business Process Outsourcing)
- – 230 companies
- – 32,000 employees
- ITO (IT Outsourcing)
- – 280 companies
- – 38,000 specialists
- KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing)
- – 40 companies
- – 8,000 employees
- HR Outsourcing
- – 60 companies
- – 7,500 experts
- R&D (Research and Development Centers)
- – 25 companies
- – 10,000 employees
Internationalization and growth
Sofia is attracting more and more international companies from Western Europe, North America and Asia, who choose the city to open their offices, R&D centers and outsourcing services.
The high qualification of the specialists, competitive costs and strategic location make it a preferred destination for global operations.
The total number of outsourcing companies in Sofia in 2024 represents a growth of about 9% compared to 2023.
New niches are developing, such as AI and automation, which generate new opportunities and investments.
Growth is also supported by the support of government programs and investments in technology parks and innovation centers.
Strategic location
Sofia is at the crossroads between East and West – with easy access to European markets, but also with the opportunity to serve clients fromthe USA, Canada, Israel and Asia.
- – Only 2–3 hours flight to most European capitals;
- – Time zone, convenient for working with Western Europe;
- – Part of the EU – with all the business and legal advantages.
Talent and education
-
– Sofia graduates over 15,000 students annually in IT, economics, linguistics and management.
- – The workforce is young, digital and multilingual – with a high level of English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Scandinavian languages.
- – More and more companies invest in corporate academies and on-site training.
