Bulgaria Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Bulgaria's industry employment was 27.88% in 2025, ranked 157th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Bulgaria's industry employment stood at 27.88% in 2025, a decline of +0.25% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 27.26% by 2026. Bulgaria ranked 157th globally.
Bulgaria's industry employment has exhibited a downward trend over the past three and a half decades, with the latest figure standing at 27.88 percent. This represents a decline from the all-time peak of 45.09 percent in 1991, marking a significant shift in the country's employment landscape. In comparison, Türkiye's industry employment rate of 27.29 percent is nearly as low, while Turkmenistan's 28.57 percent rate is slightly higher. The decline in industry employment in Bulgaria is a notable aspect of the country's economic evolution, particularly in the post-communist era. The 35-year coverage period reveals a consistent downward trajectory, with the latest value representing the all-time trough. This trend suggests that Bulgaria's industrial sector has been undergoing significant changes, with potential implications for the country's economic diversification and growth strategies. A reversal in this trend may depend on the development of new industries and sectors, such as renewable energy or high-tech manufacturing, which could potentially alter Bulgaria's industrial employment trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 26.00% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 26.63% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 27.26% | - | - |
| 2025 | 27.88% | −0.25% | #157 |
| 2024 | 28.13% | −1.46% | #157 |
| 2023 | 29.59% | −0.64% | #164 |
| 2022 | 30.23% | +0.24% | #166 |
| 2021 | 29.99% | −0.94% | #166 |
| 2020 | 30.94% | +1.45% | #170 |
| 2019 | 29.49% | −0.81% | #166 |
| 2018 | 30.30% | +0.98% | #170 |
| 2017 | 29.32% | −0.85% | #167 |
| 2016 | 30.17% | −0.13% | #169 |
| 2015 | 30.30% | +0.66% | #170 |
| 2014 | 29.64% | −0.89% | #168 |
| 2013 | 30.53% | −0.93% | #175 |
| 2012 | 31.46% | −0.05% | #177 |
| 2011 | 31.51% | −1.89% | #176 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bulgaria matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bulgaria's industry employment was 27.88% in 2025. Ranked 157th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Bulgaria's industry employment peaked at 45.09% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Bulgaria was 27.88% in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 157th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Bulgaria's industry employment is projected to reach 27.26% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Bulgaria in 2025 was 27.88%. This ranks 157th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bulgaria_industry-employment,
title = {Bulgaria Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bulgaria/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}