The poll was conducted among 1,200 individuals across the entire country. Another 400 people from other ethnicities and 400 ones with disabilities have been polled in addition, Programme Director of Open Society Maria Metodieva says. The research surveys public attitude, regarding career opportunities, according to five criteria: age, physical disabilities, ethnicity, religion and sexual preferences.
“The major conclusions from the poll are as follows: the existence of physical disabilities is a main reason for limited career opportunities, followed by age and ethnicity. Almost 2/3 of Roma people and 28 percent of people with disabilities said they were rejected as job applicants. Young people, aged 18 – 23 and Bulgarians, aged 46 – 60 are the most affected age groups on the labor market. Each forth polled in these groups has admitted that he or she has personally experienced a negative attitude by the society and employers due exactly to the age. I.e., there are social differences on the labor market and this is quite normal.”
