More than 90% of hotels in Bulgaria report difficulties in recruiting employees, particularly for key roles such as cooks, maids, and waiters. The data comes from a study by the Bulgarian Hotel Forum, presented at the 10th Conference on Investment and Hotel Management in Sofia’s National Palace of Culture, according to Novinite.
Causes Behind the Shortage
Experts cite several major reasons for the ongoing labor shortage: low motivation to work in tourism, negative demographic trends, and the seasonal nature of the hospitality industry.
Hotel managers warn that the problem may worsen in the coming years. Georgi Duchev, director of the Hotel Forum, noted that while some establishments succeed in attracting staff, retaining and engaging them is the real challenge.
Pay Is Not the Main Issue
Interestingly, low pay — often considered the main problem — ranks lower than other factors. Most hotels rely on a mixed recruitment strategy, combining internal hiring with recruitment agencies.
Cooks remain the most in-demand professionals, followed by maids, waiters, and receptionists. Technical specialists are also needed, while bartenders and management staff are less affected.
A Focus on Local Workforce Development
In about 70% of hotels, foreign workers make up no more than 10% of staff, while around a quarter of establishments employ none at all.
Many hoteliers agree that the sustainable solution lies in improving education, training, and professional development for Bulgarian hospitality workers — an investment that could strengthen the entire tourism sector.