AI is saving Bulgarian companies an average of one month of employee working time per year

Sunday, Jun 28, 2026

AI adoption saves Bulgarian workers time; global trends show role reorganization, not just job loss.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

In Bulgaria, AI is currently saving employees an average of one month’s work per year through automation and faster task completion, according to a Telerik Academy report. The study found that employees are often adopting AI tools independently to improve efficiency rather than due to company-led initiatives. While fears about job displacement for IT specialists in Bulgaria appear exaggerated, there is a lack of investment by companies in AI training for their staff. AI’s biggest impact is seen in software development and marketing, where it assists with content creation, summarization, task tracking, and data analysis. The adoption of AI is leading to a gap between employer expectations—where AI skills are becoming a hiring standard—and the low rate of employee upskilling. Despite high usage rates among professionals, few companies have implemented significant AI projects or made major investments in the technology.

Globally, the impact varies: In Italy, while there are no clear signs of mass job replacement, roles are being reorganized and hybridized with technical and operational skills. However, some cases show layoffs attributed to AI-based organizational models, and a court ruling established a precedent recognizing AI as a factor in efficiency-driven restructuring. In Spain, large consulting firms have announced layoffs citing rapid technological changes, though unions dispute the direct role of automation.

In Austria, despite public fears, the IT industry has generally seen growth, although there is a future skills shortage. Experts suggest a three-step process for AI integration: upskilling current staff, hiring new specialists, and eliminating roles incompatible with AI. In Czechia, while large-scale job losses due to AI are not yet evident in macro indicators, some companies have announced significant reductions citing AI, though industry insiders suggest cost reduction is also a factor. Long-term forecasts predict substantial job displacement across the economy by 2050.

Romania’s IT sector has seen a decline in hiring and experienced layoffs among software developers due to AI influencing task distribution and client pricing pressures, compounded by recent changes in government tax incentives for IT workers.


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