What kind of IT specialists are tech companies looking for in Bulgaria?

Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cloud technologies, and cybersecurity. Experts in these areas are what technology companies in Bulgaria are increasingly looking for amid the oversaturation of IT workers with basic programming skills.

In recent years, the job market for IT professionals has been one of the hottest in the country, offering the highest salaries and opportunities for career development. However, at the end of 2022, the trend began to cool down due to multiple factors, such as the war in Ukraine, high inflation, and economic instability.

Another factor in the changing reality and the lower number of IT job ads is the rapid development of technologies, which are now requiring a different type of specialist.

Technology companies in Bulgaria are actively looking for experts in areas such as AI, machine learning, quantum computing, blockchain technologies and cybersecurity. Specialists with experience in developing fintech and cryptocurrency solutions are also in high demand," said Hristina Hristova, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Paysafe, in a comment to Economic.bg.

She added that there is currently a demand for people with knowledge of cloud platforms, such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud, as well as DevOps. “At Paysafe, we often look for experts with experience in data processing and analysis and expertise in the field of cybersecurity and cloud technologies,” Hristova added.

Her words were also confirmed by Milen Kirilov, Head of Talent Acquisition and VP Cloud & Infra Services at DIGITALL.

The fact is that there is increased interest in finding experts in the fields of AI, Machine Learning, Big Data and cybersecurity," Kirilov told Economic.bg.

However, he added that DIGITALL is currently also looking for specialists "in the well-known areas of software development, cloud technologies, CRM, BizApps, as well as traditional Data Center services."

This is the dawn of the era of artificial intelligence, and we have yet to discover new horizons and new professions there," said Kirilov.

Iva Dorbaliyska, Head of Internal Recruitment at Elevate, says that the reason for seeking such specialized knowledge lies in the fact that it is useful in process automation, the manufacturing industry, logistics, healthcare, helping to better protect corporate data and making companies more flexible and efficient.

The demand for these specializations shows the current trend in the IT sector labor market – the focus is on tech experts who can contribute to innovation and maintain the competitive advantages of companies in the rapidly changing digital era," she told Economic.bg.

Oversaturation with junior developers

In some areas of the IT sector, there is indeed oversaturation, especially among specialists with basic programming skills," said Dorbaliyska.

According to her, this includes novice developers or people with basic knowledge of popular programming languages, including JavaScript, Python or Java, without specialized skills or experience in more specific technologies or industries. “Companies are now looking for specialists who can offer more than basic programming skills. They want people with skills in specific technologies, such as advanced artificial intelligence platforms, specialized cybersecurity, development of complex cloud solutions and others,” Dorbaliyska added.

Kirilov explained the oversaturation trend as the result of the good working conditions and attractive pay offered in the sector, which led to the reskilling of many people on the labor market, which, in turn, has increased the number of job candidates with basic programming skills.

My opinion is that the near future of the IT sector in Bulgaria lies in the provision of highly expert services in the industry," Kirilov predicts.

However, he pointed out that such skills are acquired with perseverance, experience and "continuous improvement." "Therefore, these specialists must quickly navigate the situation, find a suitable employer or project that will provide them with the opportunity for training and development," he recommends.

What cooled the Bulgarian IT job market?

All three of the interviewed experts confirmed the cooling of the IT labor market. Kirilov explained that this was a process that began in late 2022 and reached its peak in 2023, when technology giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce and others announced mass layoffs in the first quarter of that year. “The reasons for this are multiple – ​​the war in Ukraine, global economic instability and inflation led to increased caution in business,” specified the expert.

Many companies have tightened their budgets, stopped or minimized investments in new digital solutions, and started looking for savings, optimization, and efficiency in the IT services they use," added the head of hiring at DIGITALL.

The data supports the reality of the trend. Dorbaliyska from Elevate provided statistics according to which, if in 2022 there were a total of about 10,000 open positions, by the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, this number had halved, and the number of open positions in the sector was already about 5,000.

However, Hristova outlined new opportunities in this market. “Economic instability, political uncertainty, inflation and reduced consumption have led many companies to be more cautious, optimize their budgets and adopt a more selective approach to hiring talent,” said Hristova.

The development of technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, creates new opportunities for experts in these fields. We expect the IT sector to see moderate but sustainable employment growth," commented Hristova.

Programming language certificate = high salary?

In recent years, it has often been claimed that completing a programming course and consequently getting a certificate almost guarantees a well-paid job. According to Kirilov, however, these are only the “first steps” in a process that requires years of practice and development.

I believe that the times seen 5-6 years ago, when massive investments were made in junior staff due to the high demand for IT specialists, are now over. I often meet young people with unrealistic financial expectations, and it is important for them to have a clear idea that a successful IT career requires a significant investment in time, perseverance, development and practical experience," said Kirilov.

He pointed out that junior experts must face "the challenge of artificial intelligence, which can perform a large part of the tasks of junior programmers," but at the same time, it can be an opportunity for development. Knowledge of another foreign language other than English also "increases the competitiveness of job candidates enormously."

Hristova also emphasized that getting a certificate does not necessarily guarantee a high-paying job.

Companies value not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical experience, the ability to apply what has been learned, and the ability to solve specific business problems," the expert said.

Dorbaliyska from Elevate echoed Hristova's words but pointed out that "experience in the international environment of companies working in key industries, participation in real projects, adaptability and the ability to learn quickly" are perhaps among the most sought-after qualities by employers.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov