Unemployment in Bulgaria has reached very low levels, Capital newspaper reported. People having lower education or without any qualification feature among those who are jobless.

Economic sectors experience a different problem, the lack of qualified labour hand and experts. The problem is serious even without the migration wave from Bulgaria to Western Europe, expected after the country's EU entry.

In 2001 unemployment began decreasing, which turned into a long-term tendency. The figures decreased from 18.1 per cent in 2000 to less than 10 per cent in 2006.

The levels approximate the ones in EU countries. Labour unions, however, keep a negative outlook on these developments. Unions said that official figures undermined the problem.

Industry Watch representative Luchezar Bogdanov said that real unemployment was much lower than official figures.

Such developments could have negative consequences, as they affected labour market dynamics. Only workers without qualification remain unemployed .

Macroeconomic stability and the higher labour force demand led to the significant decrease, Capital reported. Social policies also aided a number of people find job.

Effects were mostly positive as less money was spent for social aid, consumption went up and market dynamics increased, analysts said.

At the same time businesses were worried as they faced qualified worker shortage. The shortage is most noticeable in the IT and engineering sectors.