The Relation between the Education of Economically Active Individuals in Republic of Bulgaria and Their Positions on the Labour Market under Conditions of Economic Instability

The study has been conducted in order to analyze the degree of influence of the level of education on the chances of employment, long-term unemployment and self-employment, under conditions of a stable labour market and under a labour market that is destabilized in time of economic crisis. The idea is to find empirical evidence of the changing role of education under the altered parameters of the economic environment in which the labour market functions. It has been shown that the level of education is a factor influencing employment both under conditions of a stable labour market, and under a labour market destabilized by an economic crisis. The influence, however, is manifested in a different manner and in a different degree, depending on the condition of the economic environment. The relation between education and the length of unemployment of jobless individuals is manifested clearly under a stable labour market. During periods of economic instability the role of education for reducing the period of unemployment decreases to insignificant levels. In a different manner there is manifested also the connection between the individual levels of education and the three examined characteristics of economically active individuals – employment, long-term unemployment and self-employment. The chances of employment are affected by all four levels of education – they increase with the transition from a lower to a higher level of education both under a stable, and under an unbalanced labour market. Certain effect on the employment status and on the length of the unemployment period has the low and the high levels of education. The average educational level has no significant influence over these two characteristics both under a stable, and under a crisis economic situation.