LABOR MARKET

The labor force (the economically active popula­tion aged 16-61) in Kazanlak and the wider area around - up to 45 min. totals 182 000 people. Opening the Shipka Tunnel in the next year will allow 'fast track' economicaly active from Gabro­vo and will add another 32 197 people and will increase the total of the population in 30 min. distance to 214 000 people.

The active age rate in the administrative district for 2018 (ratio of the number of the labor force aged to the number of people in the same age group) is 57.1%, which is higher than the aver­age for the country. Currently 105 668 people are employed in the administrative district,more than % out of which in Kazanlak.

The unemploy­ment rate in the town is one of the lowest in the country 3,6 %; for the 30 min. area is 5,3 % in January 2020.

It has to be underlined that a large pool of human capital is still accessible in the 30 min. area of Kazanlak - in January 2020 there are still 2 388 registered as unemployed in working age, as well as 44 839 people, who are currently economically active; in the wider area up to 45 min. area the figures are: 4 308 registered as un­employed in working age; 88 599 currently eco­nomically active.

The administrative district is one with most of people working in the manufacturing sector in Bulgaria, which is an important indicator of the size of the existing manufacturing manpower and traditions in personnel training.

The labor force in the administrative district of Stara Zagora is very diverse in terms of employ­ee's qualification/ professional skills.

The District employs 25 000 executives, special­ists and supportive administrative workers, as well as over 9 000 technicians, 19 300 skilled in­dustrial workers and 16 500 machine operators and assemblers.

The labor force is specialized but easily adaptable to transit between different sectors/segments of industrial production.

Kazanlak has its major contribution of this. Em­ployees in manufacturing sectors are above 18 000.