Lifeguard Shortage Hits Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast Despite Pay Rise.

Lifeguards are becoming increasingly difficult to find along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, and a shortage is expected again this summer despite higher wages. Salaries have been increased by around 20% this year, but vacancies remain unfilled.

From July, beaches are expected to be fully staffed with lifeguards, a target the sector is still struggling to meet. Alternatives are also being explored, including the use of technology to assist in sea rescue operations. As employment along the beaches is entirely seasonal, concessionaires have been unable to reach the required total staffing level of 1,500 to 1,700 workers, leaving hundreds of positions vacant just weeks before the peak tourist season.

Young professionals in the sector are rare, while the job requires constant and intense concentration at lifeguard stations. At the South Beach in Nessebar, lifeguards say the greatest pressure does not come from waves or dangerous rip currents, but from the irresponsible behavior of beachgoers.

Senior lifeguard at South Beach in Nessebar, Grigor Stanchev, said: There are people who enter the water under a red flag… I have repeatedly gone into the sea to rescue people who ignore our instructions, whistles, everything – there should be fines.

Tihomir Georgiev is among the youngest lifeguards at South Beach in Nessebar. There are hardly any new colleagues, and the job requires constant focus. He added: In general, the best lifeguard is the dry lifeguard, who can prevent an incident before it even happens.

He has been in the profession for 36 years and says the greatest pressure usually comes not from the sea, but from tourists. Georgiev also explained: Lifeguarding is 70% observation.