Low wages drive migration of skilled workers
The Republic of Moldova is experiencing a paradox in its labor market: despite having over 300,000 inactive individuals, numerous sectors are facing employee shortages. The government is working to increase employment through initiatives that support youth and by expanding childcare infrastructure, allowing parents to return to work sooner. Meanwhile, labor unions are highlighting issues such as unattractive wages, informal employment, and a lack of job security.
Despite the high number of people not participating in the labor force, authorities are also highlighting some positive trends. The activity rate is on the rise, particularly among women, with the employment rate increasing from approximately 44% in 2019 to over 55% in 2025.
Corina Ajder, the Prime Minister's Advisor on Labor and Social Protection, stated during the "Public Space" program on Radio Moldova that the Republic of Moldova is undergoing a gradual wage adjustment. The minimum wage has risen significantly in recent years compared to previous increments.
"There were years when it only increased by 100 lei or didn’t increase at all. Two years ago, we jumped from 4,000 to 5,000 lei, and now we are at 6,300. We all understand that living on a minimum wage of 6,300 lei is challenging, but it was only 3,000 not long ago. The government has publicly committed to reaching 10,000 lei during its term," the advisor said.
Unattractive salaries continue to be one of the main issues in the labor market, contributing to labor migration. Lilia Franț, Vice President of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova, noted that the departure of well-trained specialists directly impacts various sectors of the economy since "the best-trained employees, in whom significant investments have been made, are leaving."
Another significant issue is the expansion of the informal economy. Lilia Franț pointed out that many problems in the labor market are related to "envelope" salaries.
"We do not have a well-structured understanding of what informal and formal mean. It’s not just about salaries; it also pertains to our actions, such as whether we take a receipt when shopping or how we access certain services. These elements are interconnected," she explained.
The Republic of Moldova is facing a labor shortage and salaries that are well below the European Union average. One of the main reasons for this is the economic structure and the low level of added value, according to Stanislav Ghilețchi, the deputy director for research at the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE).
Ghilețchi noted that the lack of competitive salaries and job instability has driven the massive migration of the active population over the years, particularly to European Union countries. Estimates suggest that around 40% of the Republic of Moldova's working population is currently abroad.
"In sectors like HoReCa and agriculture, if we mainly process raw materials, we have no means to generate high salaries. We must assess the policies we implement and how we can encourage the business environment to shift from low-value sectors, which will always have low salaries, to those with higher added value," he added.
While the average salary in the European Union is approximately 3,500 euros per month, in the Republic of Moldova it ranges from 700 to 800 euros.
