THE WORLD OF WORK
Since the Second World War, the Bulgarian economy has shifted from rural and agricultural to urban and industrial. The transition to a market economy began with the end of communism in 1989.

 Bulgaria has important chemical, metallurgical and machine-construction industries. The food, wine and tobacco industries, as well as the horticultural and the stock-breeding industries, are also important. Bulgaria exports many agricultural products, such as vegetables, fruits, tobacco, dairy produce, and rose oil. There are 39 wineries, which produce world-famous Bulgarian wines. Tourism is also a growing industry.
The best-paid jobs in the Bulgarian economy include research, state administration, construction, transport and finance. Lower-paid jobs are usually in agriculture and forestry. 

Women have always been valuable to the Bulgarian workforce. Traditionally, they worked side-by-side with the men on farms. Women have always been paid equal wages for work of equal value. Bulgaria's Family Code of 1985 ensures equal rights for men and women. 
 Did you know? 
 
About 70% of the world's attar of roses (a perfume ingredient) comes from Bulgaria. It is a component of the world's most expensive perfumes. Two thousand petals are needed to make a single gram of attar of roses.
  		 
Because of a low birth rate during the 1960s, labour shortages occured in Bulgaria in the 1980s. However, in the 1990s, large-scale economic reform caused high rates of unemployment. Many young, well-educated Bulgarians have applied to leave the county since 1990. 

Like Canadians, Bulgarians have a five-day work week. Bulgarians also have a social security system, and can collect unemployment insurance when they need it.