What are the challenges facing women and girls when looking for a job? The Partners Bulgaria Foundation held workshop in Blagoevgrad on May 28th 2025, addressing the problem of existing gender inequalities in the labor market. Representatives of businesses and various institutions in the cities were invited, as well as young people looking for opportunities for realization.

The foundation team presented the PRODIGY (PROmoting Digital and Green skills for Youth) project, which provides opportunities for young people to receive digital training and to involve businesses in attracting young staff. The project is aimed at developing digital and green skills of young people, aged 15 and 29 years old who are neither in education, nor in employment (NEETs). Representatives of local businesses expressed interest in the opportunities for partnership with the project.

NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training): NEETs are a heterogeneous and vulnerable group, but certain categories face higher risks of exclusion, such as:Young women, especially mothers or caregivers, ethnic minorities. people with disabilities.

There is a definite gender gap since young women NEETs face specific obstacles related to stereotypes, lack of support services (e.g., childcare), and discrimination. The project aims at addressing these specific barriers.

The Partners Bulgaria Foundation team presented to the local businesses some of advantages of NEETs inclusion in the program:

Access to qualified personnel: The project prepares young people in the field of digital technologies and sustainable development. Companies get the opportunity to discover new talents trained in modern and practically oriented programs.

Partner network: Businesses can become part of a growing network connecting active employers and socially engaged organizations at national and international level. This creates new opportunities for cooperation and exchange of experience.

Increased visibility and reputation: Participation in an internationally recognized project like PRODIGY bring benefits not only in the field of human resources, but also as part of corporate social responsibility policies. Companies have the opportunity to join events with a European scope and to present their own good practices.

The seminars in Blagoevgrad and Gotse Delchev showed steps towards building sustainable links between education and the labor market. Strategies for greater openness and attraction of both young men and young women to employment and overcoming the various barriers and challenges that women face were discussed. Attention was also paid to the situation of various vulnerable groups such as migrants, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities for whom the labor market is not always open.

The interest from local companies showed that business has a key role in supporting youth employment and the development of practical skills. The PRODIGY project continues with trainings, internships and events in support of young people and engaged employers. For more information on inclusion – contact the project team (teodora@partnersbg.org)

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.