Three of Four Employers Plan to Raise Salaries in First Half of 2026 – Survey 2026

Balgarianovinite.com A recent report says that 75.76% of employers in Bulgaria plan to increase staff salaries in the first half of 2026. It also reveals that 43.56% of surveyed employers have negative expectations regarding the impact of the new regulations related to the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
The survey was conducted by human resource consulting firm Manpower Bulgaria and published on its website in February.
It notes that over half of companies planning to increase salaries in the first six months of the year will apply the rise to all employees. Salary increases are mainly expected to range between 6% and 10%, driven by inflation, the need to retain key talent, and alignment with market levels.
Around 25% of employers do not plan further salary increases, most often due to adjustments already made in 2025 or a strategic focus on internal cost optimization.
While salaries remain the primary tool for competitiveness, additional benefits are evolving at a slower pace. Nearly 75% of companies do not plan changes to their benefits packages in the first half of 2026. Those that do intend to enhance them are focusing on well-established and proven benefits such as performance-based bonuses, food vouchers, supplementary health insurance, and team-building initiatives.
According to the report, average employee turnover in 2025 stands at around 12%, with nearly two-thirds of employers reporting lower levels compared to 2024. The main driver remains more competitive pay offered by another employer. Sectors such as Mechanical Engineering and Banking, Finance and Insurance report the lowest turnover levels (6–7%), while Tourism and Hospitality registers rates of up to 38%.
At the same time, 60% of surveyed companies face recruitment challenges, particularly in Manufacturing (38.54%), Logistics and Warehousing (25%), and Sales and Procurement (21.35%).
Despite these challenges, 41.25% of employers plan to expand their teams in the first half of 2026, with a net employment outlook of +35.31%. The strongest demand for new talent is reported in Banking, Finance and Insurance, Construction, Information Technology, and Telecommunications, Electronics and Electrical Engineering.
Manpower Bulgaria goes on to say that 81.84% of employers are informed and prepared for the introduction of the EU Pay Transparency Directive. However, only a small share have already fully implemented the required processes. The most common concerns relate to managing employee expectations, ensuring internal pay equity, and increased administrative burden.
The data shows that pay transparency is still perceived more as a regulatory requirement than as a strategic tool for building trust and strengthening employer branding.
The results of the survey clearly indicate that in 2026 employers will continue to invest in their people, but in a more deliberate and long-term manner, the report says in conclusion. Salary increases remain a key instrument for talent retention. The upcoming EU Pay Transparency Directive challenges companies to reassess not only their processes but also their organizational culture. Those that succeed in balancing financial sustainability with genuine care for their people will be better positioned in an increasingly sensitive and dynamic labour market, the report says. Three of Four Employers Plan to Raise Salaries in First Half of 2026 – Survey 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-18 06:47:18 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law