09 Apr 2026
The Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition at the Municipality of Stara Zagora is actively involved as a partner in implementing the Network4Work project, as part of the local administration’s efforts to support businesses and develop the labour market. The initiative aligns with municipal policies and complements established local initiatives such as WorkIn Stara Zagora, which aim to attract workers and strengthen connections between employers and potential employees.
Stara Zagora hosted an important international visit as part of the Network4Work project, implemented under the URBACT IV programme. Representatives of the project’s Lead Partner and the Lead Expert visited the city and held strategic meetings focused on labour market development.
The visit included working meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, bringing together representatives of manufacturing businesses, regional institutions, including the Labour Office, educational organisations—the Regional Department of Education in Stara Zagora, the International Youth Centre and the Centre for Personal Development Support—as well as the Vibejobs platform. The active involvement of all parties provided a foundation for in-depth dialogue and exchanges of experience.
The discussions focused on identifying key labour market challenges, including labour shortages, the need to better align workforce skills with employers’ requirements, and the importance of strengthening links between education and practical work experience.
Participants also discussed good practices aimed at improving employment, including the development of lasting partnerships between institutions and businesses and the introduction of flexible approaches to training and employment.
The programme also included visits to manufacturing enterprises, providing first-hand insight into employers’ actual needs and production processes.
The visit by the Lead Partner and the Lead Expert highlighted Stara Zagora’s role as an active European partner in seeking sustainable solutions for labour market development and creating effective models of cooperation between all stakeholders.
In the next stages, all proposals put forward during the meetings will be analysed. This will be followed by comprehensive mapping of the identified challenges and the formulation of specific measures to address them.
