Number of people working in Moldovan agriculture decreases by 600,000 in 23 years
The number of people working in the agricultural sector in Moldova has decreased by approximately 600,000 in the past 23 years, according to economic policy expert Veaceslav Ioniță.
Ioniță said that the decrease in the number of agricultural workers is due to the intensification of agricultural production, which has led to an increase in productivity per worker. However, he warned that this trend could have negative consequences for the sector, as it could lead to a shortage of qualified workers.
Ioniță said that investments in specialised education are needed to ensure that the agricultural sector has a qualified workforce. He also called for the government to improve working conditions in the sector, as well as to provide social protection for agricultural workers.
The annual agricultural production of Moldova is at the level of 40-45 billion lei. This ensures, together with the processing industry, up to 45% of the total Moldovan exports.
In 2000, the number of people employed in agricultural activities was 770 thousand. Currently, 179 thousand people work in the field.
Of the nearly 180 thousand people working in agriculture, only 35 thousand have employment contracts. The rest work on their own.
The average age of the person involved in agricultural activities was 43.7 years in 2010. In 2022, it was 46.2 years.
