The effect of the economic crisis on the labour market in the past few months varies in the different parts of the country, indicates an analysis by the Institute for Market Economics.

Regions where, as a rule, labour market dynamics are less pronounced are less affected. In terms of absolute numbers of unemployed registered, it is the big municipalities that are top of the list – Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and Bourgas. However, percentage-wise, unemployment has spiked most in municipalities, whose economies are largely dependent on tourism. For the March-May period, unemployment was 13.1% in the mountain resort of Bansko, and 12.5% in its neighbouring town of Razlog. Unemployment levels are also high in towns known for their natural curative water – Hissarya, Velingrad, Pavel Banya and Sandanski.