Unemployment in 2008 was to drop under seven per cent, according to the National Action Plan on Employment 2008, approved by the Cabinet on January 31 2008.

Over 2007, average annual unemployment in the country was 7.75 per cent, investor.bg said.

Deputy Labour and Social Policy Minister Dimitar Dimitrov said that the state budget would provide 190 million leva for active policies in the labour market in 2008. In 2007, the sum for such policies was the same, he said.

The state would stimulate employment for people aged under 29 and above 50, as well as those with low education or poor qualifications.

More than 70 million leva had been allocated for the programme From Dole to Employment. Another 37 million leva would be utilised by the programme for social assistance for disabled people, investor.bg said.

The National Action Plan on Employment 2008 envisions that almost 76 200 people will find a job under various programmes, which is 40 per cent lower than the year before. The number of people to receive vocational training, however, will double to 74 000.