The IT industry in Bulgaria remains among the main drivers of the economy

What are the forecasts of specialists from the sector for the payment and hiring of personnel, the most promising industries, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and cooperation between the state and business in 2025?

In 2025, the IT sector in Bulgaria will continue to develop, but at a more moderate pace, compared to previous periods - from over 20% annually for 2023 and 2024, to the expected between 10 and 20% for 2024. This is the forecast of Svetoslav Dimov, executive director of the specialized Job Board for IT announcements on DEV.BG, about the state and future of the technology industry.

"For 2025, we expect the trend to continue - there will be growth, but it will not be rapid. The number of open positions in the market will increase slightly. The situation remains difficult for people who are just entering the industry," the manager also commented.

His expectations are that in 2025, the geopolitical situation and global financial policies will have an impact on the development of the industry. His forecasts are for pressure on wages in the sector due to the increasingly close levels of service costs in Bulgaria, compared to larger regional markets such as Poland. "An increase in wages can be expected in the hottest areas, such as cybersecurity and data science, but overall wage levels are more likely to remain stable," adds the CEO of DEV.BG.

Experts in the field are adamant that Bulgaria can achieve sustainable growth in the IT sector through innovation, increasing the number of specialists and strengthening regional leadership. “The decisions we make today – be it in education, policies or investments – will determine our trajectory for decades to come,” says Iliya Krastev, Chairman of AIBEST, CEO of A Data Pro and member of the Board of Directors of BRAIT.

He expects that cloud technologies, cybersecurity and digital transformation remain key areas of development in the industry. “In addition, the integration of technologies such as blockchain and the Internet of Things will transform a number of industries in Bulgaria,” he adds. According to him, Bulgaria is still among the leading countries in Southeast Europe in terms of economic competitiveness.

Iliya Krastev is also convinced that 2025 will be a year of cooperation. “Cooperation between the state, academia and the private sector is crucial. We need clear policies that encourage research and development, as well as support for startups, in order to build a more sustainable innovation ecosystem,” he adds.

The Executive Director of the Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association (BESCO), Dobromir Ivanov, emphasizes the need for sustainable policies to support the startup ecosystem. He expects new funds to be launched in 2025, which will place a stronger focus on deep tech innovations and the relationship between science and entrepreneurs.

The Chairwoman of BAIT, Irina Radoeva, for her part, draws attention to the importance of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity as drivers for growth. Her observations show that Bulgaria is lagging behind both Europe and leading markets such as the US and China. According to most experts in the industry, the long-term growth of the sector will depend on investments in education, innovation and effective cooperation between the state, business and academia.