Moldovan unemployment is declining, with over 6,200 illegal workers legalized
The labor market in the Republic of Moldova showed signs of recovery in the second quarter of this year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate decreased to 7.3%. The number of employed individuals rose to 859,300, and the total labor force increased by 2.5%, reaching 926,900 people.
The data were presented by Sergiu Harea, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during the working session titled "Labor Market Development," which was organized on the Economic Council platform under the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova.
The employment indicators have evolved alongside efforts to combat undeclared work. Last year, the State Labor Inspectorate identified 8,086 individuals working "undocumented," of whom 6,206 were subsequently legalized. This resulted in a formalization rate of 76.8%.
In the same year, the State Labor Inspectorate conducted 3,453 inspections, reflecting a 33% increase compared to 2024. Consequently, inspectors uncovered 21,550 violations.
Additionally, the institution uncovered wage arrears amounting to 165.1 million lei, an 18% decrease from the previous year.
Nicolae Vutcariov, Director of the State Labor Inspectorate, emphasized the institution's focus on preventing violations and ensuring employer compliance.
“Dialogue between authorities, unions, and employers is essential for labor policies to address real issues in the economy. For the State Labor Inspectorate, our priority is to ensure that employees’ rights are respected while employers benefit from clear, predictable, and uniformly applied rules. We aim to shift from an approach focused solely on control to one that combines prevention, compliance, and firm intervention in cases of serious violations,” stated Nicolae Vutcariov.
The National Employment Agency (ANOFM) also reported positive developments. According to ANOFM Director Raisa Dogaru, the agency registered 41,575 job openings last year and helped employ 20,733 individuals. In the first eight months of 2026, the agency employed an additional 16,348 people through its services.
More individuals also benefited from vocational training. In the first eight months of this year, 1,751 people enrolled in voucher-based vocational training courses, compared to only 700 in all of 2025. The job subsidy program also helped employ 581 unemployed individuals, involving 352 employers.
