We are a city packed with human capital it's all about people in Stara Zagora city,
you'll find a highly trained and well motivated workforce
The population of Stara Zagora district is 288,736 people in 2024, which makes it the fifth most populous region in Bulgaria. The city of Stara Zagora is the administrative centre and the economic and cultural focal point of the district. In 2024, it had 121,249 inhabitants and ranked sixth in the country in terms of population. Together with its municipality, Stara Zagora had a population of approximately 142,296 people in 2024, accounting for nearly half of the district’s total population. The age structure in the city of Stara Zagora remains the most favourable in the district.
As far as workforce size is concerned, the city of Stara Zagora is the undisputed centre of the district with over 66,900 men and 56,300 women within the working-age group (15–64) as of 2025, totalling around 123,200 people. Kazanlak has the second largest workforce pool, 41 537. It is followed by Chirpan with 14 991 and Radnevo with 15 760 residents of working age, according to earlier records. The rest of the smaller towns in the district together have a working-age population of 10,455 people.
The commuting area of Stara Zagora also includes two important towns outside the administrative borders of the district – Dimitrovgrad and Nova Zagora, which together add more than 72,000 people to the potential labour force in the district. Overall, more than 130,000 working-age residents live in the Stara Zagora commuting zone. In addition, more than 14,750 district residents aged 15–19 represent potential new entrants in the regional labour force in the short to medium term.
Approximately 142 348 people live in the Stara Zagora Municipality. Another 158 444 people live in close proximity to Stara Zagora city (30 min. from Downtown).
The city is accessible for 1 hour by another 86 065 people (Yambol).
Additional labour resources from outside the administrative borders of the district came from Haskovo (60 km), Nova Zagora (32 km) and Dimitrovgrad (46 km) – 212 805 people.
“Excellent workforce quality and efficient production processes have led to an increase in productivity — exceeding the growth of labour costs — over the past decade.
With a share of the working-age population representing approximately 57.0% of the total population of Stara Zagora Province (2022), the region is close to the national level (~59.8%).”
| Age | Number | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 57 336 | 20% |
| 20-44 | 74 729 | 26% |
| 45-64 | 85 070 | 29% |
| 65-74 | 39 210 | 14% |
| 75+ | 32 394 | 11% |
165 551
Average monthly salary in Stara Zagora – BGN 2,051 (Q1 2025) / National average – BGN 2,572 (Q2 2025)
Although salaries are increasing, the region remains slightly below the national average.
The gap between municipal and regional levels is now minimal — the city of Stara Zagora is no longer at the bottom of the regional ranking, as it was in 2020. Salaries in the city are growing steadily, especially in the manufacturing and IT sectors. Average salary – BGN 2,051 (Q1 2025).
The highest wage levels are observed in the economic sectors “Mining and quarrying” and “Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply.”
| Economic activities | BGN |
|---|---|
| Production and distribution of electricity and heat and gaseous fuels | 41357 |
| Mining industry | 35842 |
| Creation and dissemination of information and creative products; telecommunications | 27736 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 24262 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activites | 21976 |
| Education | 26188 |
| Government management | 25372 |
| Manufacturing industry – преработваща промишленост | 22678 |
| Culture, sport and entertainment | 16639 |
| Human health and social work | 22096 |
| Professional activities and research | 19009 |
| Construction | 17271 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 16562 |
| Real estate operations | 15361 |
| Trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 16298 |
| Transport, storage and communications | 14005 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 14313 |
| Other activities | 13670 |
| Hotels and restaurants | 12611 |
| Total | 22234 |
Quarterly data for 2024 show an increase in the average monthly salary levels in other major regions such as Burgas, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, and Ruse, while in Stara Zagora the growth remains moderate and below the national average.
Municipal data indicate an unusual pattern – the administrative centre, Stara Zagora, which is the largest city in the district, remains slightly below the leading municipalities in terms of salary levels. In 2024, the highest average monthly gross salaries in the district were reported in Radnevo and Galabovo, driven by the energy and mining industries concentrated there.
Kazanlak, with its strong industrial and engineering profile, follows with an average monthly gross salary of around BGN 1,700. In Stara Zagora city and municipality, the average monthly gross salary reached BGN 2,051 in Q1 2025, which marks a steady increase compared to previous years but still slightly below the national average of BGN 2,572.
The local economy continues to diversify, with salary growth most notable in the manufacturing and IT sectors, while the mining and energy sectors still provide the highest overall remuneration levels within the region.
1st year
The state pays 90% of the gross salary, up to the maximum social security ceiling.
The minimum wage in Bulgaria proposed for January 1, 2026 is BGN 1,213 (≈ €620.20).
2nd year
Fixed allowance of BGN 780 per month.
3rd year
Without pay
Sufficient Workforce of Working Age within Convenient Commuting Distance – Stara Zagora Region Remains One of the Country’s Leaders in Manufacturing Employment.
The Stara Zagora region stands out as one of Bulgaria’s leading areas in terms of employment in the manufacturing sector. The region is characterized by a clear concentration of employment in mechanical engineering, metallurgy, the food industry, and heavy industry.
Companies that choose Stara Zagora as their investment destination will gain access to a large pool of human capital. The economically active population in the region amounts to around 131,000 people, of whom nearly 126,000 are employed. Over 54,500 people work in the manufacturing sector, which includes the production of metals, machinery, food, plastics, and textiles – representing more than half of all employees in the region.
The region also holds strong potential for future labor market development – more than 14,000 young people aged 15–19 are expected to enter the working-age population in the coming years. At the same time, the number of registered unemployed persons of working age (15–64 years) continues to decline, dropping below 6,000 people in 2024.
The local workforce is well-prepared and highly qualified. More than 80% of employed individuals have completed vocational, technical, or higher education, with the share of those holding higher education degrees exceeding 30%. Stara Zagora employs over 26,000 managers, professionals, and administrative staff, around 8,900 technicians, approximately 18,500 highly skilled industrial workers, and more than 16,000 machine operators and assemblers.
The workforce is both specialized and adaptable, making it capable of transitioning between different industries and segments of industrial production. Men predominantly occupy positions requiring technical qualifications as well as roles related to machine operation and management, while women are more widely represented in administrative and specialized professions.
40 hight school in region
18 vocational high school in the Municipality
36 vocational training centers in the region
1 university - over 6035 students
1 technical college
Over 33 900 pupils in the region
Over 17 650 students in the City
Trakia University disciplines: Medicine, Veterinary, Agriculture, Economics, Technics and Technologies.
New majors in IT and digital fields have been launched to strengthen STEM‑orientation. Currently over 10,000 students are enrolled at Trakia University. The university’s officially accredited capacity is 9,435 students. Technical College – Kazanlak (approx. 30 min away) offers the programme “Technology of Machine Building”.
Space Research and Technology Institute has its own Space Laboratory located in Stara Zagora. Institute of Rose and Essential Oil Cultures and the Institute of Arable Crops and Field Crops are within approximately 30 minutes of the city. Stara Zagora district is home to two accredited higher‑education institutions – Trakia University in Stara Zagora and the Technical College in Kazanlak (affiliated with Technical University of Sofia).
Trakia University, located in the city of Stara Zagora, is a member of international education organisations including the International Association of Universities (IAU). Faculties include: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Pedagogy (Education), Economics, Technics & Technologies (including a sub‑faculty in Yambol).
The university offers:
In the city of Stara Zagora and its municipality 14 secondary schools offer education focused on technical, IT, mathematical and foreign language areas. In 2020 a new professional school for computer science and mathematical analyses was opened, which is a sign of the district’s intentions to keep up with the STEM education trends. More than half, or 1,215 students, graduated from schools in the city of Stara Zagora. At least 25% of all secondary school graduates in the district are potential workforce for the sourcing industry. Stara Zagora was one of the first cities to successfully introduce the dual form of education. In the city are three vocational high schools ,which operate with dual system of education. The educational institutions have concluded contracts with partner companies, in which the students from 11th and 12th grade study according to a schedule in the enterprises on certain days of the week. Students sign an employment contract and receive remuneration for the days worked. A total of 300 students study under this system. The model of dual education has been introduced in several schools in the city of Stara Zagora, which is being worked on in the following professional fields:
Machine Technician (CNC)
electrician
chef
mechatronics
In support of the development of vocational education for 9 years the Municipality of Stara Zagora and the Regional Department of Education, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Employers' Club, organize a Regional Panorama of Vocational Education and Career Guidance. opportunities for students who choose secondary education.
1 742
2 125
790
The labour force in Stara Zagora is very diverse in terms of employee’s qualification/professional skills. Stara Zagora employs more than 25 500 executives, specialists and supportive administrative workers, as well as approximately 9 000 technicians, 20 500 skilled strongly industrial workers and 16 000 machine operators and assemblers. The labour force is specialized but easily adaptable to transit between different sectors segments of industrial production. Mostly men occupy professions that require technical qualifications (15%) as well as those related to machine management and installation (12%), while women occupy professions such as specialists (10%).
