The economic and social situation in Romania.
Date: 2015-07-30
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: Romania, economic recession, euro area, fight against unemployment, labour force, labour market, manpower needs, social economy, social policy, social security, unemployment

The economic and social 
situation in Romania

STUDY

European Economic and Social Committee

THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL 
SITUATION IN ROMANIA 

Enache Steluța Georgeta 

"This study  was carried out  by  Enache  Steluta  following  a call  for  tenders launched  by the 

European  Economic  and  Social  Committee.  The  information  and views  set  out in  this  study 

are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European 

Economic  and  Social  Committee.  The  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  does  not 

guarantee  the  accuracy  of  the  data  included  in  this  study.  Neither  the  European  Economic 

and  Social  Committee  nor  any  person  acting  on  the  Committee's  behalf  may  be  held 

responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein." 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Abstract 

In 2009, Romania ignored the signs of the financial crisis which manifested visibly in EU and 
North  America,  and  entered  into  this  crisis  unprepared  and  later  than  other  countries. 
Therefore,  the  effects  of  the  crisis  weren’t  mitigated  by  preventive  measures,  and  nor  after 
entering the crisis, there were taken real corrective measures, except of measures to reduce 
public spending. But these measures were not homogeneous in all public spending area. 

Lack of balance and procyclical fiscal and budgetary policies were aggravating factors, but 
the  economic  crisis  in  Romania  started  from  the  overconsumption  behaviour  of  the  private 
sector and the current account deficit. 

Romania’s economy remains anchored in low and medium skilled labour, relatively low user 
of  technologies  and  based  on  low  value  added  industries.  Productivity  is  affected  and 
business models used allow productivity gains based only on wage cuts, which basically is a 
powerful additional stress factor. 

The structure of employment in Romania reflects a serious lag behind compared to the other 
European  countries  economies  structure,  being  one  of  the  causes  of  low  productivity  in 
general. Although some differences were recovered, Romania continues to be the EU country 
with  the  most  inadequate  distribution  of  employment  on  economic  sectors.  This  structure 
affects the ability of real convergence in order to join the euro zone. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Table of Contents 
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................... 2 

Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4 

Chapter 2 Economic and social situation ............................................................................................... 5 

Chapter 3 Labour market and labour conditions in Romania .............................................................. 8 

Chapter 4 Industrial relations and the social partners in Romania .................................................... 14 

Chapter 5 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 18 

7. Statistical appendices ........................................................................................................................ 20 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Chapter 1 Introduction 

Romania  was one  of  the countries heavily  affected  by  the  economic  crisis.  Its  high level  of 
exposure  to  housing  speculation  and  dependency  on  foreign  bank  capital  brought  about  a 
sudden  economic  collapse.  In  addition  the  markets  shrank,  with  domestic  consumption 
dropping  and  a  drastic  fall  in  exports.  As  if  the  deeply  unfavourable  international  situation 
were not enough, the measures implemented from 2009 were misguided. The beginnings of 
the crisis saw Romania in denial. The competent institutions argued that the crisis would not 
affect Romania, and when it became clear that this would not hold true, there was no united 
strategy  and  no  action  plan  had  been  prepared  to  combat  the  crisis.  As  a result,  regulations 
were adopted piecemeal and failed to boost the labour market or to provide for suitable social 
inclusion.  The  emphasis  was  instead  on  securing  a  fragile  macroeconomic  balance  at  any 
cost. 

 For more than two decades, policies in Romania sought to secure short-term macroeconomic 
stability;  this  objective  has  been  partially  achieved  through  harsh  and  austere  structural 
policies. The price paid for this macroeconomic stability was reduced potential for growth in 
GDP, which  would  have  closed  the  gap  with  EU  Member States.  Analysts  estimate1 that  in 
order  to  reach  60%  of  the  EU  average  for  GDP  per  capita  at  purchasing  power  parity, 
Romania would need to grow 2% more quickly than the EU average for 10 years.  

If  the  process  of  entering  the  euro  area  is  to  be  speeded  up  without  weakening  the 
macroeconomic balance, policies targeting the real economy need to be shaped and pursued. 

Forced  flexibility  in  the  labour  market  can  only  be  beneficial  for  workers  if  a  balance  is 
struck between the other structural conditions, with a view to boosting the employment rate, 
reducing  inequality  and  implementing  efficient  social  protection  mechanisms  to  cover  the 
transition  from  one  job  to  another,  from  activity  to  inactivity  and  unemployment  or  from 
unemployment and inactivity back to activity. 

1

Valentin Lazea / Creșterea Produsului Intern Brut: dorințe, posibilități, probleme (Growth in Gross Domestic Product: aims, 
possibilities, problems). 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                   
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Chapter 2 Economic and social situation 

Since  it  joined  the  EU,  Romania  has  not  succeeded  in  taking  one  single  step  to  align  itself 
with the economic competitiveness of the EU Member States.  

Productivitatea resurselor (PIB/consumul intern de 
materiale) (euro/kg)

Romania adds 0.21 euro cents of added value to every kilogramme of raw material/materials 
consumed,  while 
the 
is 
European  average 
EUR  1.58  of  added 
value 
each 
for 
kilogramme  consumed 
–  over  seven 
times 
more than Romania.  

EU (27 countries)

Romania

1,62 1,58

1,55

1,39

1,39

1,41

1,43

1,44

1,36

1,39

1,42

1,33

0,35

0,23

0,26

0,25

0,25

0,24

0,24

0,21

0,18

0,21

0,23

0,21

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

is 

the  crux  of 
This 
economic  development 
in  Romania  and  of  the 
development  strategies 
implemented. 

Source: 
adapted by the author. 

Eurostat 

data, 

Principalele puncte slabe care afecteaza competitivitatea Romaniei 
in 2013 - 2014
17,80%
nivelul fiscalitatii

The main determining factor in the growth of gross value added between 1995 and 2011 as 
regards  Romania  was  external  demand  (both  inside  and  outside  Europe).  Given  that  global 
competitiveness 
has  an  impact  on 
external  demand 
and  on  economic 
growth,  Romania 
needs  to  be  more 
alert 
factors 
to 
which  undermine 
its 

Sourc
e: 
World 
Econo
mic 
Foru
m

reglementari ale cursului
de schimb

capacitate de inovare
insuficienta

sistem public de
sanatate deficitar

birocratia
guvernamentala

reglementarile fiscale

18,00%
16,00%
14,00%
12,00%
10,00%
8,00%
6,00%
4,00%
0,40%
2,00%
0,90%
0,00%
1,30%
2,30%

acces la finantare

infractionalitate

coruptia

13,40%

11,80%

10,50%

10,20%

0,20%

instabilitate
guvernamentala

reglementari restrictive in
piata muncii

etica deficitara la locul
de munca

2,80%

3,30%

7,30%

6,20%

instabilitate politica

5,70%

6,20%

nivel inadecvat al
infrastructurii

inflatia

competitiveness. 

Source: 
Economic 
adapted 
author. 

World 
Forum, 
the 

by 

forta de munca
insuficient calificata

levels, 
corruption,  access  to  financing,  the  degree  of  red  tape,  political  instability  and  inadequate 
infrastructure  are  just  some  of  the  main  weaknesses  affecting  Romania's  competitiveness. 
One  factor  damaging  its  competitiveness  is  its  under-qualified  labour  force.  Although  in 
2011-2012,  the  under-qualified  labour  force  represented  only  around  3.6%  of  the  overall 

Tax 

5 

 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

factors  harming  Romania's  competitiveness,  in  2012-2013  this  percentage  had  grown  to 
4.2%, and had increased again to 5.7% in 2013-2014. 

The trend is clear. It is detrimental to Romania and damaging in the medium and long term: 
the deterioration will gain pace and the measures which could be taken will not be effective 
immediately. 

 The  impact  of  labour  market  developments  during  the  economic  crisis  can  be  seen  in  the 
deteriorating social conditions and poverty. 

As  the  economy  grows,  people's  income  rises,  but  generally  this  does  not  affect  all  groups 
equally. Ideally, for incomes to converge at national level, incomes would need to rise more 
quickly for poorer people than for richer people.  

d9

d1

d10

total

The inability to cover current needs is clear when analysing the risk of poverty for the general 
population  in  Romania. 
policy 
social 
The 
implemented in Romania 
has  done  little  to  change 
things,  and  the  risk  of 
social 
poverty 
after 
transfers  was 
around 
22.5%.  In  2012,  only 
Greece  scored  higher  on 
this 
than 
indicator 
Romania,  the  European 
average  being  around 
17.5%. 

10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-2%

2011/2010

2012/2011

d8

d3

d2

d4

d7

d6

d5

Evolutia veniturilor banesti ale gospodariilor populatiei pe 
decile %

Source  of  data:  National 
(INS), 
statistics 
adapted by the author. 

institute 

Very low-income households were hit hardest by the crisis, and are finding it more difficult 
to  recover  than  other categories  of  household. Between  2010  and  2012,  the  poorest  10% of 
households in Romania recorded a rise in income of only 1%, while the average rise for other 
households was 6% on average. 

In  2012,  these  households  were 
unable  to  cover  basic  consumer 
expenditure.  In  2012,  the  income 
of  over  20%  of  Romanian 
households  was  less  than  the 
minimum basket of goods.  

Source  of  data:  National  statistics 
institute, adapted by the author. 

80,0

75,0

70,0
%
65,0

60,0

55,0

Someri aflati in risc de saracie

71,6

71,8

72,2

73,3

75,5

73,0

64,1

64,5

63,5

64,3

65,5

66,9

2007

2008

2009

2010

6 

2011

2012

UE 27

Romania

 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Poverty affects all categories of society and is closely tied to level of employment, quality 
of employment and salary level.  
Since 1996, people able to work have been moving from the status of employee to inactivity 
or unpaid work, resulting in insecure income and risk of poverty. Young people aged between 
15 and 24 are one of the categories 
hardest  hit,  with  employment 
falling from 37% in 1996 to 33% in 
2000 and 24% in 2012.   

Alte persoane inactive aflate in risc de 
saracie

60,0

54,7

51,7

50,4

49,1

49,1

53,9

41,8

41,1

40,8

41,2

42,4

43,6

50,0

40,0

%

30,0

20,0

10,0

0,0

Source:  Eurostat  data,  adapted  by  the 
author.  

The  categories  most  at  risk  of 
poverty  are  employed  people  other 
than  employees  and  unemployed 
people.  The  risk  of  poverty  for 
these  categories  is  around  70%, 
and  even  higher  for  unemployed 
people. 

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

UE 27

Romania

 The  economic  crisis  and  falling  living  standards,  particularly  in  rural  areas,  have  led  to 
increasing  rates  of  early  school  leaving  in  both  rural  and  urban  areas,  particularly  in 
secondary  and  vocational  education  but  also  in  post-secondary  education.  Looking  at  data 
accumulated between 2007 and 2012, drop-out rates for primary and secondary school (10-14 
years old) education rose by around 9%, rates for secondary school (14-18 years old) rose by 
around 19% and rates for post-secondary education rose by around 28%. 

Year by year, there has been an increase in early school leaving, rising sharply to 18.4% in 
2010.  However,  in  2013  early  school  leaving  fell  slightly  to  17.3%.  There  is  insufficient 
evidence  to  suggest  that  2010  was  a  turning  point.  Inadequate  education  has  as  strong  an 
effect on unemployment as lack of experience. For some sectors and some jobs, experience is 
more  valuable  than  education,  while  the  opposite  applies  in  other  sectors.  Poorly  educated 
people are more likely to be unemployed, and in the long term this will increase the duration 
of unemployment in this group. 

The situation in rural areas is dramatic: in 2013 around 28% of young people dropped out of 
school,  which  will  affect  their  ability  to join  the  labour  market.  Lack  of  experience  will  be 
exacerbated by lack  of  proper education, and  these  two factors  will substantially  reduce the 
likelihood of young people in rural areas finding decent jobs.  

Generally speaking, a series of preliminary measures have been undertaken in Romania with 
regard  to  specific  aspects  of  employment  policy,  but  as  yet  there  is  no  consistent 
comprehensive approach or any move to integrate education and employment policies. Under 
the  Europe  2020  strategy,  more  vigorous  steps  will  need  to  be  taken  to  improve  the 
employment prospects of vulnerable groups (such as young people, older workers and Roma 
people) by raising education and qualification levels both for people currently in work and for 
future workers, by means of a system of incentives for work and to curb undeclared work. 

7 

 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Crucial  to  the  structural changes  which  will  take  place  in  the labour market in future  is the 
shrinking  productivity  gap  between  economic  sectors,  which  will  automatically  mitigate 
labour market dysfunctions.  

The  phenomenon  of an ageing  population  has appeared sooner in  Romania  than  its  level  of 
economic development would have suggested. The main factor in this process after 1990 was 
external  migration,  as  the  majority  of  people  leaving  the  country  were  active,  in  both 
economic  and  demographic  terms.  This  had  a  strong  impact  on  birth  rates  and  natural 
population growth.  

The decrease in the active population over the last decade has undermined the ratio of people 
in  work  to  people  of  working  age.  Falling  employment  rates  of  labour  resources  brought 
about  by falling  activity  rates,  along with  the increased  rate of  retired  people,  has  led  to  an 
increase in the economic dependency of the general population.  

Chapter  3  Labour  market  and  labour  conditions  in 
Romania 

Romania inherited and still has a deficient employment structure which curbs development 

Romania's labour market still has a series of structural deficiencies as regards the population 
and  labour  force,  which  have  been  amplified  by  the  economic  and  financial  crisis. 
Accordingly, until 2013 it was not possible to recover the jobs lost during the crisis, and the 
employment rate in 2013 (60.9%) was substantially lower than in 2008 (63.9%). 

Source:  INS  data,  adapted  by 
the author.  

RATA OCUPARII RESURSELOR DE MUNCA
la nivel national (%)

to 

Measures 
boost 
Romania's  labour  market 
participation 
and 
employment  rate  have  a 
strong  impact  which  is 
felt  throughout  the  entire 
economic 
social 
system:  in  2010,  the  1 
percentage  point  increase 
in  the  employment  rate 
amounted 
1.6 
to 
percentage  point  rise  in 
GDP2. 

and 

a 

72,1

69

68,1

66,2

64,2 64,5 64,7

66,6

66

65,7

64,6 64,6

64,1

62,8

64,6

62,9

62,4

63,4

63,6

61,3

60,7

60,1

61,4

60,6

59,6

59,6

61,1

60,9

75

70

65

60

55

50

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

rata de activitate

rata ocuparii

regard 

 With 
increase in the employment  rate, Romania's agricultural labour force is  larger  than statistics 

the 

to 

2

According to calculations by the experts of the Biroul pentru observarea pieței muncii și a calității locurilor de muncă (Labour 
market  and job quality observatory) of the Blocul Național Sindical (National trade union federation). 

8 

 
 
 
 
                                                   
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

consider usual for a modern economy and above the European average. This means that the 
country's average productivity is low. 

Rata ocuparii resurselor de munca
pe regiuni de dezvoltare (%)

Source:  INS  data,  adapted 
by the author.  

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

Investing  and  rolling 
to 
out  measures 
modernise 
the 
economy  and  reduce 
the  proportion  of  the 
population  working  in 
the  agricultural  sector 
would 
yield 
substantial  benefits,  in 
terms of increasing the 
income  of  agricultural 
and 
workers 
modernising rural areas. In 2010, reducing the number of people working in the agricultural 
sector by 1 percentage point amounted to an annual increase in GDP of 1.2%3. 

Regiunea
BUCURESTI -
ILFOV

Regiunea NORD-
VEST

Regiunea CENTRU Regiunea NORD-

Regiunea SUD-
MUNTENIA

Regiunea SUD-
VEST OLTENIA

Regiunea SUD-
EST

2006

2010

2013

1990

2000

2003

Regiunea VEST

10

0

EST

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

1%

1%

0%

0%

0%

0%

2%

2%

1%

1%

0%

1%

12%

12%

13%

13%

14%

15%

20%

13%

14%

15%

20%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

18%

16%

18%

16%

100%

0%
12%

12%
1%

12%
1%

12%
1%

13%
1%

13%
1%

0%
13%

Structura populatiei ocupate
dupa statutul profesional

The  structure 
of  people 
in 
work 
has 
shown a linear 
and  uniform 
dynamic  over 
last  few 
the 
years, 
with 
employees 
making  up  an 
average of 67-
68%  of  all 
people 
in 
self-
work, 
employed 
people  making  up  around  12%,  and  unpaid  family  workers  making  up  another  12%.  The 
existence  of  this  category  is  worrying:  it  is  a  swollen  group  (12%  of  people  in  work)  and 
masks a substantial slice of the population with no resources of their own. This is particularly 
concerning because 15 to 24 year olds form the lion's share of this group (36% of people in 
work in 2013).  

Anul 1996 Anul 1998 Anul 2000 Anul 2002 Anul 2004 Anul 2006 Anul 2008 Anul 2010 Anul 2012 Anul 2013 Trimestrul

II 2014
Membru al unei societati agricole sau al unei cooperatii

Lucrator familial neremunerat

Lucrator pe cont propriu

62%

59%

10%

20%

30%

55%

62%

66%

66%

67%

66%

67%

68%

67%

Salariat

Patron

0%

3

According to estimates by the experts of the Biroul pentru observarea pieței muncii și a calității locurilor de muncă (Labour 
market  and job quality observatory), BNS. 

9 

 
 
 
                                                   
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Labour  resources  have  been  falling  over  the  last  few  years,  a  gentle  but  almost  permanent 
downward trend which applies across the country with the exception of the north-east region 
where the opposite is taking place: there is a visible increase in labour resources. This is the 
poorest  region  in  Romania,  where  the  Gross  Domestic  Product  per  inhabitant  is  48%  lower 
than  at  national  level,  with  the  gap  widening  every  year.  Since  occupational  and  regional 
mobility  in  Romania  is  very  low  and  there  are  no  policies  targeting  this  issue,  it  is  to  be 
expected  that  there  will  soon 
be  an  increase  in  exposure  to 
the  risk  of  poverty  among 
people in work. 

RESURSELE DE MUNCA
pe regiuni de dezvoltare Romania

2500
2400
2300
2200
2100
2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100

Source:  INS  data,  adapted  by  the 
author. 

Currently,  around  19%  of 
people in work in Romania are 
at risk of poverty, whereas the 
European  average  is  around 
9%. 

A N U L  
1 9 9 0

A N U L  
2 0 0 0

A N U L  
2 0 0 1

A N U L  
2 0 0 2

A N U L  
2 0 0 3

A N U L  
2 0 0 4

A N U L  
2 0 0 5

A N U L  
2 0 0 6

A N U L  
2 0 0 7

A N U L  
2 0 0 8

A N U L  
2 0 0 9

A N U L  
2 0 1 0

A N U L  
2 0 1 1

A N U L  
2 0 1 2

A N U L  
2 0 1 3

Regiunea NORD-VEST
Regiunea NORD-EST
Regiunea SUD-MUNTENIA
Regiunea SUD-VEST OLTENIA

Regiunea CENTRU
Regiunea SUD-EST
Regiunea BUCURESTI - ILFOV
Regiunea VEST

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

RATA DE ACTIVITATE
pe regiuni (%)

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

A N U L  
1 9 9 0

A N U L  
2 0 0 0

A N U L  
2 0 0 1

A N U L  
2 0 0 2

A N U L  
2 0 0 3

A N U L  
2 0 0 4

A N U L  
2 0 0 5

A N U L  
2 0 0 6

A N U L  
2 0 0 7

A N U L  
2 0 0 8

A N U L  
2 0 0 9

A N U L  
2 0 1 0

A N U L  
2 0 1 1

A N U L  
2 0 1 2

A N U L  
2 0 1 3

Regiunea NORD-VEST

Regiunea CENTRU

Regiunea NORD-EST

Regiunea SUD-EST

Regiunea SUD-MUNTENIA

Regiunea BUCURESTI - ILFOV

Regiunea SUD-VEST OLTENIA

Regiunea VEST

The  inactivity  rate  rose 
and  was  still  very  high 
in  Romania 
in  2013. 
than  29%  of 
More 
people  able  to  work  are 
inactive;  this  figure  has 
risen  sharply  given  that 
in  2000  the  inactivity 
rate was only 16%. 

Inactive people able to work represented an average of around 30% between 2008 and 2013. 

Active 
population 

Inactive 
population 
of working 
age 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

84% 

82% 

76% 

73% 

73% 

71% 

73% 

73% 

72% 

72% 

71% 

70% 

71% 

71% 

16% 

18% 

24% 

27% 

27% 

29% 

27% 

27% 

28% 

28% 

29% 

30% 

29% 

29% 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

This  very  high  rate  is  the  result  of  a  deeply  concerning  situation.  Many  people  become 
discouraged  in  their  search  for  work  (particularly  common  in  rural  areas)  and  so  become 
inactive.  It  should  be  noted 
that  it  is  the  35-49  age  group 
to 
is  most  prone 
that 
becoming 
in 
discouraged 
their  search  for  work,  the 
that  should 
very  category 
have the most job stability. 

Structura populatiei descurajate in a mai cauta un loc de munca dupa 
mediul de rezidenta

57% 58% 56%

66% 66%

54%

59%

64%

58%

60%

71%

68%

59%

57%

Source:  INS  data,  adapted  by  the 
author. 

50%
50%

42%

52%
48%

46%

41%

41% 43%

36%

53%

53% 52%
47% 48%

47%

43% 42% 44%

40%

34% 34%

32%

29%

reflects 

situation 

a 
This 
that  demonstrates 
tendency 
the  very 
substantial  and 
unwelcome changes that have 
occurred  in  labour  relations. 
Many employers prefer to hire less qualified, less experienced, younger staff, that can be used 
at  their  discretion,  while  more  qualified,  more  experienced  professionals,  with  specific 
expectations  and  the  ability  to  translate  those  expectations  into  reality,  are  discouraged  in 
their search for work. 

urban

rural

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

structura populatiei descurajate in a mai gasi un loc de munca pe grupe de varsta

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Anul 1996

Anul 1998

Anul 2000

Anul 2002

Anul 2004

Anul 2006

Anul 2008

Anul 2009

Anul 2010

Anul 2011

Anul 2012

Anul 2013

Trimestrul II
2014

15 - 24 ani

25 - 34 ani

35 - 49 ani

50 - 64 ani

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Even  though  the  unemployment  rate  in  Romania  is  not  high  enough  to  pose  too  many 
problems, careful analysis shows some extremely worrying aspects... 

In recent years, unemployment has tended to become long-term. 

Numarul somerilor
inregistrati la sfarsitul lunii

1.200.000

1.000.000

800.000

600.000

400.000

200.000

0

Someri neindemnizati

Total someri inregistrati (indemnizati si neindemnizati)

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

The official statistics indicate a moderate trend, but this only applies when people leaving the 
system  are  not  taken  into  account.  The  unemployment  rate  appears  to  be  relatively  low  but 
this  is  illusory  and  does not  reflect  real  labour market  conditions.  This  failure to  reflect  the 
real-life situation is partly due to the very high level of employment in subsistence farming – 
a third of the population able to work. 

Moreover,  a  hard  core  of  unemployment  is  becoming  structural.  Thus  over  half  of  people 
recorded by the ILO as being unemployed had not worked for at least eight years, a period of 
time  which  in  practice  strips  many  unemployed  people  of  their  skills  and  the  discipline 
required for a job. 

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

In  2011,  only  2%  of  unemployed 
people  moved  from  unemployment 
to  a  job  and  in  fact  80%  of 
unemployed  people  do  not  find 
work.  More  than  half  of  young 
people  completing  a  cycle  of 
learning  become  unemployed  or 
inactive. 

SOM ER I  B IM   CAR E  AU  IN CE TAT  SA  L UCR EZE 
DE   CEL  PU TIN  8  ANI

45%

42%

46%

48%

52%

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

The same 35-49 age group, the category most discouraged in looking for work, is showing an 
increasing tendency towards long-term employment.  

69%
66%
63%
60%
57%
54%
51%
48%
45%
42%
39%
36%
33%
30%

Source: INS data, adapted 
by the author. 

The proportion of this 
age  group  among  the 
long-term 
unemployed  has  been 
increasing rapidly and 
consistently,  seeing  a 
in 
from  32% 
rise 
2010  to  over  41%  in 
the  first  quarter  of 
2014. 

Evolutia somajului de lunga durata
pe grupe de varsta

15 - 24 ani

25 - 34 ani

35 - 49 ani

50 ani si peste

We are also seeing a worrying trend in the evolution of long-term unemployment. The levels 
of  long-term  unemployment  among  young  people  are  extremely  high,  in  rural  areas  (over 
61% in 2013), and especially in urban areas (over 68% in 2013). 

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

Incidenta somajului BIM de lunga durata

49,8

38,7

32,2

49

58,4

59,6

35,2

34,2

64,2

62

44,3

61

61,3

48,2

37,1

39,2

68,4

61,2

53,1

44,2

incidenta somajului BIM de lunga durata la tineri - urban
incidenta somajului BIM de lunga durata la tineri - rural
incidenta somajului BIM de lunga durata - urban
incidenta somajului BIM de lunga durata - rural

80

70

60

50

%

40

30

20

10

0

2009

2010

2012

2013

2011
ani

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

However,  there  were  also  very  high  rates  of  overall  long-term  unemployment  that  year 
(2013).  In  urban  areas,  over  half  of  registered  unemployed  people  were  long-term 

unemployed  (53.1%),  and  in  rural 
areas  the  proportion  was  44.2%  – 
somewhat 
lower,  but  primarily 
resulting  from  people  leaving  the 
unemployment 
insurance  benefits 
system  (but  not  getting  back  into 
employment)  and  the  inability  of  the 
system  to  record  unemployed  people 
in  rural  areas  (they  themselves  being 
uninformed, 
and 
discouraged). 

uninterested 

Source: INS data, adapted by the author.  

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Ponderea somerilor
care s-au angajat dupa ce au urmat o forma de 
pregatire

73% 74%

54%

34% 32%

24%

19%

21%

14%

15%

Anul
2002

Anul
2003

Anul
2004

Anul
2005

Anul
2006

Anul
2007

Anul
2008

Anul
2009

Anul
2010

Anul
2011

It  is  also  worth  noting  that  training  programmes  appear  to  be  ineffective  in  their  (more  or 
less) concerted efforts to get unemployed people back to work in Romania. A study (2012)4 
on  the  effectiveness  of  vocational  training  courses  taken  by  unemployed  people  found  a 
continuing downward trend in the effectiveness of such courses (with the exception of 2010), 
with  the  decline  being  very  sharp  and  reaching  15%  in  2011,  as  against  73-74%  in  2002-
2003. 

Chapter  4  Industrial  relations  and  the  social  partners  in 
Romania 

The  revision  of  labour  legislation  has  not  had  the  anticipated  effect;  in  fact,  it  has made 
relations 
labour 
even  more  unstable 
... 

Populatia ocupata cu program de lucru complet, dupa durata obisnuita 
a saptamanii de lucru

100%

6%

5%

4%

5%

5%

4%

4%

5%

8%

9%

10%

7%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Source: 
adapted by the author. 

INS 

data, 

legislation 
Labour 
has  been  revised  to 
working 
make 
more 
conditions 
flexible  (an  exercise 
carried out during the 
crisis)  and  this  has 

63%

63%

57%

59%

64%

67%

68%

69%

69%

71%

72%

74%

16%

14%

15%

19%

17%

15%

15%

10%

11%

15%

Anul
1996

Anul
1998

Anul
2000

12%

Anul
2002

11%

10%

11%

14%

11%

13%

11%

Anul
2004

Anul
2006

Anul
2008

Anul
2009

Anul
2010

12%

10%

Anul
2011

12%

9%

Anul
2012

11%

8%

Anul
2013

Nu poate fi indicata o durata obisnuita

46 ore si peste

41 - 45 ore

40 ore

36 - 39 ore

01 - 35 ore

4 

Impactul calificării și recalificării asupra cererii și ofertei de muncă (The impact of qualifications and retraining on labour 
supply and demand), Biroul pentru observarea pieței muncii și a calității locurilor de muncă (Labour market and job quality 
observatory), BNS, 2012. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                   
The economic and social situation in Romania 

STRUCTURA SALARIATILOR CU PROGRAM DE LUCRU PARTIAL -
DUPA DURATA SAPTAMANII DE LUCRU

100%

7%

6%

7%

18%

16%

15%

10%

10%

11%

12%

10%

6%

9%

13%

15%

26%

30%

42%

46%

52%

49%

42%

31%

47%

and 

labour 

relations 
made 
more unstable, with part-
fixed-term 
time 
work 
contracts 
underused  (in  2013,  less 
all 
than 
individual 
work 
contracts).  

10% 

of 

Source: INS  data, adapted by 
the author. 

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

46%

45%

42%

41%

34%

25%

21%

20%

30%

33%

25%

37%

0%

Nu poate fi indicata o durata obisnuita

damaging 

Anul 1996 Anul 1998 Anul 2000 Anul 2002 Anul 2004 Anul 2006 Anul 2008 Anul 2010 Anul 2011 Anul 2012 Anul 2013 Trimestrul

Against  this  backdrop  of 
increased 
instability  in 
labour  relations,  there  is 
a 
trend 
whereby  the  number  of  hours  worked  on  a  week  to  week  basis  is  becoming  excessively 
flexible.  Accordingly,  three  quarters  of  people employed  on a part-time basis  could  not  say 
how  many  hours  their  standard  working  week  consisted  of,  whilst  half  of  employees  on 
temporary  contracts  worked  over  40  hours  a  week  or  could  not  say  how  many  hours  their 
standard working week consisted of, with both percentages on the rise in recent years. 

31 ore si peste

11 - 20 ore

25 - 30 ore

21 - 24 ore

II 2014

Romania's economy is still based on low or medium-skilled work which uses relatively basic 
technology in areas providing low added value. This has an impact on productivity, and the 
business models used can only increase productivity by cutting wages which in practice is a 
powerful  additional  stress  factor.  In  2012,  over  50%  of  employees  were  exposed  to  at  least 
one risk factor affecting their mental health5. The private sector has reduced its spending on 
vocational training in recent years and makes less use (in quantitative and qualitative terms) 
of staff assessment. Labour relations have become more formal, with competition prevailing 
over cooperation and emulation in the workplace. 

As might be expected, unhappiness over wages continued to grow as the crisis went on. With 
lack of involvement in decision-taking, failure to reward loyalty in the workplace, mental risk 
factors and rotation-based work arrangements all contributing to this. These factors have led 
to an acute and growing loss of confidence and motivation among workers. 

The  change  in  legislation  in  the  area  of  social  dialogue  has  created  changes  which  are 
difficult to deal with, particularly as regards bipartite social dialogue... 

5

Condiții de muncă, satisfacție și performanță la locul de muncă (Working conditions, job satisfaction and performance), Biroul 
pentru observarea pieței muncii și a calității locurilor de muncă (Labour market and job quality observatory), BNS, 2012. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                   
  
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Company-level  involvement  in  protests  dropped  significantly  during  the  crisis,  with  the 
number  of  open  labour  disputes  falling  sharply. This  is  directly  connected  to  the fall  in  the 
number of collective labour agreements in effect at company and corporation level – sector-

This 
trend 
when 

collective 
have 

level 
agreements 
practically 
vanished. 
damaging 
began 
collective 
at 
agreements 
national 
level 
disappeared  as  a 
the 
result 
legislative  changes 
mentioned above. 

of 

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Numar conflicte de interese la nivel national

653

384

324

319

352

285

260

141

103 114 121

98

95

86

79

116 116

92

73

35

23

22

Anul
1993

Anul
1994

Anul
1995

Anul
1996

Anul
1997

Anul
1998

Anul
1999

Anul
2000

Anul
2001

Anul
2002

Anul
2003

Anul
2004

Anul
2005

Anul
2006

Anul
2007

Anul
2008

Anul
2008

Anul
2009

Anul
2010

Anul
2011

Anul
2012

Anul
2013

Source: INS data, adapted by the author. 

Salariati din unitatile in care au avut loc conflicte de interese

1200000

1000000

1800000

1600000

1400000

is 

Romania 
facing 
gradual  deregulation 
of  rights,  a  direct  and 
damaging  effect  of 
legislation 
the 
social 
governing 
dialogue.  As 
the 
protection  offered  by 
collective  bargaining 
based on coordination 
and  centralisation  has 
seriously 
been 
eroded, Romania now 
has a large number of 
employees earning low wages. 

200000

400000

600000

800000

0

Source:  MMFPSPV  data,  adapted  by 
the author 

There is a direct link between the 
large number of workers who are 
not 
collective 
agreements  and  the  wages  that 
these people earn. 

shielded 

by 

Salariati - total

Participanti la conflicte

Contracte colective de munca
la nivel de unitate

11729

10569

7718

8317

8783

8726

9477

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Contracte colective de munca la nivel de unitate

16 

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0

 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

More  than  40%  of  Romanian  workers  are  not  covered  by  collective  labour  agreements, 
almost  twice  the  European 
average,  and  this  figure  is 
closely 
the 
linked 
number  of  workers  earning 
low wages. 

Persoane care au o activitate secundara
pe grupe de varsta

18% 18% 16% 15% 18% 20% 18% 19% 21% 21% 20%

to 

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

46% 46% 44% 45%

46% 48% 50% 51% 52% 54% 55%

27% 28% 34% 32% 30% 26% 27% 26% 22% 20% 20%

Anul
1996

Anul
1998

Anul
2000

Anul
2002

Anul
2004

Anul
2006

Anul
2008

Anul
2010

Anul
2011

Anul
2012

Anul
2013

15 - 24 ani

25 - 34 ani

35 - 49 ani

50 - 64 ani

65 ani si peste

Moreover,  given  these  low 
earnings,  there  has  been  a 
growing  tendency  among 
employed people to take on 
a 
income-
generating activity, and this 
has  major  implications  for 
the general condition of the 

secondary 

workforce and on employment opportunities. 

We  are  seeing  pseudo-growth  in  employment:  while  there  is  an  increasing  number  of 
employment  contracts,  it  is  in  fact  the  same  individuals  (approximately  200  000  people  in 
2013,  with an  upward trend) forced  to take  on an additional job.  In terms  of age  group,  we 
again find the 35-49 category accounting for 55% (in 2013) of those engaged in a secondary 
income-generating activity. 

U T I L I Z A R E A   C O N T R A C T E L O R   D E   M U N C A   C U   T I M P   P A R T I A L  
/   C U   D U R A T A   D E T E R M I N A T A

salariati cu regim de lucru temporar

salariati cu regim de lucru partial

Source: INS and 
MMFPSPV data, adapted 
by the author 

3,5%

3,0%

2,5%

2,0%

1,5%

1,0%

0,5%

0,0%

Anul
1996

Anul
1997

Anul
1998

Anul
1999

Anul
2000

Anul
2001

Anul
2002

Anul
2003

Anul
2004

Anul
2005

Anul
2006

Anul
2007

Anul
2008

Anul
2009

Anul
2010

Anul
2011

Anul
2012

Anul
2013

Of relevance to the deterioration of social dialogue at company level is the fact that only 15% 
of  active  companies  with  more  than  10  employees  and  87%  of  those  with  more  than 
50 employees had concluded company-level collective agreements in 2013. The current rules 
stipulate  that  businesses  with  over  20  employees  have  an  obligation  to  negotiate  collective 
agreements  at  company  level;  there  is  no  requirement,  however,  to  conclude  such  an 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

agreement. Moreover, accepting worker representatives as partners in the dialogue with rights 
similar to those of unions facilitates pseudo collective bargaining, which does not culminate 
in the signing and registering of a collective agreement. 

Chapter 5 Conclusions 

Romania  is  undoubtedly  experiencing  negative  developments  as  regards  its  population, 
labour force and labour relations. 

While  the  unemployment  rate  has  remained  relatively  constant  in recent  years,  with  modest 
fluctuations,  certain  developments  are  posing  major  problems.  These  include  chronic 
unemployment,  both  among  the  overall  long-term  unemployed  and  young  people  who  are 
long-term unemployed, and in both rural and urban areas. Over half of people recorded by the 
ILO  as  being  unemployed  had  not  worked  for  at  least  eight  years.  The  categories  most 
affected  are  the  15-24  age  group  (who  make  up  most  of  the  unpaid  family  workers  – 
considered part of the active labour force, but in fact unemployed people who need support to 
secure their livelihood), and, paradoxically, the 35-49 age group, who despite being available, 
well-educated  workers  with  tested  skills  and  experience,  constitute  the  group  that  is  most 
discouraged in looking for work. 

Labour resources have been falling and there is a section of the employed work force that is 
undermining  employment  (the  large  proportion  of  the  population  employed  in  subsistence 
farming  and  very  high  levels  of  unpaid  family  workers).  The  proportion  of  people  able  to 
work falling into inactivity is also very high and rising sharply – 29% of the available labour 
force is in practice inactive (as against only 16% in 2000). 

An extremely serious phenomenon, although before entry into employment, is young people 
dropping  out  of school, and this  is  growing,  especially  in  rural areas  where in  2013  around 
28%  of  young  people  dropped  out of school.  This  greatly  affects  the ability  of  those  young 
people to enter or remain active in the labour market. 

Vocational  training/retraining  programmes  need  to  be  recalibrated  to  ensure  that  they  are 
more effective, and seen as a link between education and employment. In recent years, there 
has been a sharp decline in the effectiveness of the various forms of vocational training aimed 
at the unemployed, an extreme example here being the proportion of unemployed people that 
found work after participating in such training (15% in 2011). 

With  regard  to  people  in  employment,  it  should  be  noted  there  is  a  high  prevalence  of 
precarious labour relations, low-paid work contracts and largely discretionary working hours 
– we need only consider that three quarters of people employed on a part-time basis could not 
say how many hours their standard working week consisted of or worked a number of hours 
equivalent  to  full-time,  whilst  half  of  employees  on  temporary  contracts  worked  over 
40 hours a week or could not say how many hours their standard working week consisted of. 

18 

 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

As  a  result  of  the  legislative  changes  that  have  curtailed  the  capacity  of  workers  and  the 
social partners to respond, and against the backdrop of crisis and worsening socio-economic 
conditions, there has been a marked decline in company-level involvement in protests, with 
the number of disputes and protests dramatically decreasing. 

Romania  is  facing  a  major  problem  as  regards  the  regulation  of  social  dialogue,  with  the 
protection  offered  by  collective  bargaining  based  on  coordination  and  centralisation  having 
effectively  disintegrated.  The  adverse  effects  of  this  can  be  seen  in  labour  relations,  the 
quality of jobs and remuneration (we have a very high number of workers on low wages or 
the minimum wage). 

Legal, administrative and investment solutions are needed that can normalise labour relations 
and  generally  put  the  labour  market back on a  sounder  footing, as  well as ensure long-term 
sustainable growth conducive to achieving the target set by Romania for 2020. 

One  example  of  a  potential  solution  is  the  recent  citizens'  initiative  to  amend  Romania's 
labour  code,  coordinated  by  the  Blocul  Naţional  Sindical,  which  managed  to  meet  all  the 
necessary conditions for the law in question to be sent to the Romanian Parliament, with the 
changes envisaged aimed at correcting the above-mentioned series of legal deficiencies. 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

7. Statistical appendices 

Labour resources by development region 

Unit of measurement: thousand people 

1990 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Total 

TOTAL 

13217 

13358 

13616 

13343 

13544 

13702 

13817 

13802 

13773 

13747 

13876 

14048 

14048 

14034 

13998 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

North-West 
Region 

Central 
Region 

North-East 
Region 

South-East 
Region 

South-
Muntenia 
Region 

Bucharest - 
Ilfov Region 

South-West 
Oltenia 
Region 

1697 

1680 

1706 

1669 

1694 

1719 

1726 

1731 

1731 

1731 

1750 

1778 

1779 

1779 

1776 

1648 

1611 

1643 

1595 

1620 

1632 

1653 

1643 

1641 

1637 

1652 

1669 

1667 

1663 

1657 

2049 

2252 

2300 

2260 

2297 

2315 

2341 

2341 

2336 

2332 

2356 

2385 

2399 

2411 

2429 

1735 

1794 

1836 

1805 

1829 

1849 

1865 

1859 

1847 

1840 

1854 

1868 

1860 

1852 

1843 

1979 

2002 

2037 

2002 

2035 

2061 

2071 

2061 

2049 

2043 

2063 

2088 

2086 

2079 

2069 

1422 

1401 

1430 

1411 

1440 

1472 

1489 

1501 

1506 

1511 

1524 

1547 

1541 

1543 

1530 

1410 

1392 

1417 

1399 

1411 

1416 

1422 

1414 

1407 

1402 

1415 

1437 

1441 

1437 

1432 

West Region 

1276 

1226 

1246 

1203 

1220 

1238 

1250 

1252 

1254 

1252 

1262 

1275 

1274 

1270 

1263 

Regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per inhabitant - current prices, calculated according to CAEN Rev. 1 (CAEN= Clasificarea 
Activitatilor din Economia Nationala - classification of activities of the national economy) 

Regions 

Total 

North-
West 
Region 
Central 
Region 
North-
East 
Region 
South-
East 
Region 

Bucharest 
- Ilfov 
Region 

South-
Muntenia 
Region 

South-
West-
Oltenia 
Region 
West 
Region 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

337.2 

503.6 

1132 

1647 

2458 

3610 

5264 

6975 

9084 

11414 

13363 

15968 

19315 

23935 

316 

471.7 

1040 

1540 

2335 

3322 

4912 

6691 

8640 

10901 

12539 

14947 

18611 

21284 

351.4 

531.5 

1188 

1690 

2524 

3729 

5388 

7332 

9426 

11459 

13098 

15920 

19580 

22820 

274.5 

409.2 

851.4 

1223 

1778 

2509 

3816 

5057 

6522 

7872 

8908 

10296 

12341 

14773 

342.7 

506.1 

1163 

1631 

2270 

3213 

4709 

6289 

8019 

10470 

11542 

13570 

15642 

19814 

495.6 

742.7 

1701 

2845 

4503 

7821 

10751 

14149 

18277 

22909 

29573 

35012 

43037 

58061 

329.8 

482.5 

1034 

1428 

2045 

2857 

4249 

5613 

7295 

9407 

11069 

13375 

15758 

19927 

287.1 

437 

1044 

1453 

2141 

2993 

4457 

5415 

7547 

9367 

10371 

12463 

15097 

18531 

340.7 

516.2 

1269 

1781 

2824 

3723 

5609 

7630 

10183 

13021 

15065 

18570 

22342 

25979 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Rate of activity of labour resources by development region 

Unit of measurement: percent 

1990 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

82 

72.1 

69 

68.1 

66.2 

64.2 

64.5 

64.7 

66 

66.6 

65.7 

64.1 

62.8 

64.6 

64.6 

83.2 

76.1 

74 

72.9 

70.6 

68.3 

69.2 

69.2 

70.6 

71 

70.9 

69 

68 

69.8 

69.8 

79.5 

73.6 

69.6 

71.8 

69 

66.9 

65.8 

66.5 

67.2 

67.4 

67 

65.3 

64.3 

66.7 

67 

83.9 

72.1 

68.2 

65 

61.7 

58.7 

58 

56.8 

56.9 

56.6 

56.1 

54.9 

52.8 

54 

53.1 

79.3 

68.6 

64.7 

62.9 

60.8 

59.3 

58.9 

59 

59.8 

60.3 

59.6 

58 

56.5 

58.3 

58.4 

82.2 

72.1 

68.4 

67.2 

64.7 

62 

61.9 

61.4 

62.5 

62 

62.1 

60.6 

59.2 

61.1 

61.1 

81.6 

62.7 

62 

66.4 

67.5 

68.5 

73.1 

77 

81.8 

86.2 

82 

80.4 

81 

81.9 

83.8 

84.3 

77.5 

74.4 

69.4 

68.1 

64.8 

65.1 

64.9 

65.5 

66.5 

66 

63.8 

62.3 

64.3 

63.6 

Rate of 
activity 

North-West 
Region 

Central 
Region 

North-East 
Region 

South-East 
Region 

South-
Muntenia 
Region 

Bucharest - 
Ilfov Region 

South-West 
Oltenia 
Region 

West Region 

82 

74.8 

71.7 

72.5 

71.5 

70.2 

70.4 

69.9 

71.7 

71.1 

69.9 

67.6 

66.4 

68.6 

69 

Macroreg
ions, 
develop
ment 
regions 
and 
counties 

North-
West 
Region 

Central 
Region 
North-
East 
Region 
South-
East 
Region 
South-
Munten
ia 
Region 
Buchare
st - 
Ilfov 
Region 
South-
West 
Oltenia 
Region 
West 
Region 

Civilian employed population by development region 

Years 

1992 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

TOTAL 

10458 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 

1376,
8 

1239,
6 

1606,
3 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8629,
3 

1170 

1063,
9 

1409,
1 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8562,
5 

1176,
9 

1044,
8 

1401,
8 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 

8329 

1133,
4 

1041,
9 

1308,
9 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8305,
5 

1131,
4 

1024,
9 

1290,
9 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8238,
3 

1125,
3 

1007,
3 

1253,
3 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8390,
4 

1145,
5 

1008,
1 

1265,
6 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8469,
3 

1155,
4 

1024,
9 

1246,
2 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8725,
9 

1186,
5 

1049,
9 

1262,
3 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 

8747 

8747 

1187,
9 

1046,
5 

1248,
9 

1187,
9 

1046,
5 

1248,
9 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8410,
7 

1156,
5 

1001,
8 

1208,
2 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8371,
3 

1153,
7 

1001,
8 

1207,
2 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8365,
5 

1156,
7 

1006,
8 

1192,
8 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8569,
6 

1187,
2 

1040,
7 

1224,
7 

1329,
2 

1090,
6 

1070,
7 

1022,
1 

1022,
2 

1021,
7 

1028,
2 

1035,
8 

1056,
5 

1057,
6 

1057,
6 

1011,
1 

994,9 

986,2 

1011 

Thous
and 
peopl
e 
8530,
6 

1188 

1040,
8 

1203,
7 

1003,
9 

1602,
5 

1293,
8 

1270,
4 

1221,
6 

1207,
3 

1183 

1188,
9 

1184,
5 

1214,
8 

1201 

1201 

1159,
9 

1154,
8 

1154,
5 

1182,
6 

1168,
8 

1201 

827,3 

844,8 

906,4 

944,1 

980,9 

1062,
1 

1130,
1 

1211,
7 

1281,
7 

1281,
7 

1220,
3 

1214,
8 

1224,
5 

1239 

1256,
9 

1126,
6 

953,5 

944,3 

879,4 

873,7 

848,6 

857,1 

853 

875 

867 

867 

836,1 

832,8 

828,9 

848 

832 

976 

821,1 

808,8 

815,3 

811 

818,2 

834,9 

839,4 

869,2 

856,4 

856,4 

816,8 

811,3 

815,1 

836,4 

836,5 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Civilian employed population according to professional status 

Years 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Thousand 
people 

Professional 
status of 
employed 
population 

Total 

8629,3 

8562,5 

8329 

8305,5 

8238,3 

8390,4 

8469,3 

8725,9 

8747 

8747 

8410,7 

8371,3 

8365,5 

8569,6 

8530,6 

Employees 

4646,3 

4613,1 

4614,7 

4655 

4652,7 

4790,4 

4910,1 

5162,9 

5232,7 

5232,7 

4879,5 

4581 

4660,5 

4777,2 

4801,1 

Employers 

165,7 

184,5 

183,8 

179,2 

186,2 

180,2 

169,9 

156,9 

160,3 

160,3 

125 

145,5 

126,3 

103,3 

160 

Self-
employed 

Unpaid 
family 
workers 

2263,4 

2274,9 

2115,5 

2140,4 

2133,7 

2162,2 

2134,5 

2180,4 

2162,5 

2162,5 

2080,7 

2245 

2142,8 

2241,2 

2241,2 

1553,9 

1490 

1415 

1330,9 

1265,7 

1257,6 

1254,8 

1225,7 

1191,5 

1191,5 

1325,5 

1399,8 

1435,9 

1447,9 

1328,3 

Registered unemployed people receiving allowances, by age group 

Age 
group 

Under 
25 years 
of age 

25-29 
years of 
age 

30-39 
years of 
age 

40-49 
years of 
age 

50-55 
years of 
age 

Over 55 
years of 
age 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Unit of measurement: number of people 

429668 

470330 

341354 

235000 

251215 

247573 

245989 

220701 

178413 

75111 

64603 

47103 

44938 

30559 

65217 

24743 

61794 

49189 

38523 

44264 

47065 

163628 

165107 

110606 

56529 

82806 

95780 

98199 

82778 

69214 

36066 

24404 

18202 

15264 

10640 

33105 

9884 

36455 

21448 

13423 

13896 

12622 

237519 

212750 

141738 

70055 

132460 

170610 

204743 

172673 

142805 

89380 

76542 

57164 

54276 

42306 

98432 

34252 

110380 

71827 

38372 

38694 

35579 

151406 

142893 

118416 

65941 

134523 

196395 

227774 

187751 

148531 

97115 

86804 

65091 

59574 

46160 

92548 

42011 

128312 

103127 

50591 

52905 

55127 

60056 

54815 

43980 

23918 

42159 

65643 

75904 

72467 

58512 

39288 

38151 

31938 

31703 

27184 

51658 

22840 

67103 

53830 

23459 

23767 

24454 

23567 

22455 

18127 

10247 

12840 

17017 

18942 

15541 

10215 

6728 

7081 

7656 

9556 

9984 

26878 

9819 

31453 

30219 

18170 

20947 

24779 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
The economic and social situation in Romania 

People in vocational training 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

Unit of measurement: number of people 

Unemployed 
people who 
have followed 
courses 
funded by the 
unemployment 
insurance 
budget 

People in education 

13311 

14347 

12349 

22534 

33215 

26601 

25241 

24910 

23480 

33713 

- 

 of which: have 
become active 

9710 

10585 

6688 

7664 

10567 

6387 

4818 

3369 

5008 

5008 

2 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

3 

 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

4 

 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

5 

 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

6 

 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

2 

 
 
 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

3 

 
 
The economic and social situation in Romania 

Conflicts of interest according to national economy activity at CAEN Rev.1 section level 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2008 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

Conflicts 
of 
interest 
according 
to 
national 
economy 
activity at 
CAEN 
Rev.1 
section 
level 

Total 

324 

384 

319 

285 

260 

352 

653 

141 

103 

114 

121 

79 

98 

95 

86 

116 

116 

92 

73 

35 

23 

22 

Strikes held in compliance with legal procedures, according to type of strike 

Year 

Type 
of 
strike 

Total 

Warni
ng 
strike
s 
Warni
ng 
strike
s 
follo
wed 
by 
actua
l 
strike
s 
Actua
l 
strike
s 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1995 

1996 

1997 

199
8 

199
9 

200
0 

200
1 

200
2 

200
3 

200
4 

200
5 

200
6 

200
7 

200
8 

200
9 

Unit of measurement: number 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

Num
ber 

9 

1 

30 

33 

27 

15 

15 

54 

85 

10 

10 

7 

1 

6 

3 

5 

22 

2 

5 

3 

13 

10 

9 

4 

11 

3 

8 

4 

2 

1 

12 

4 

8 

3 

1 

1 

2 

9 

5 

7 

6 

9 

37 

26 

6 

2 

3 

5 

4 

4 

1 

2 

3 

: 

6 

11 

21 

19 

3 

3 

12 

37 

2 

: 

: 

: 

4 

: 

1 

8 

2 

: 

_____________ 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European Economic and Social Committee

Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99
1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Published by: “Visits and Publications” Unit
EESC-2015-47-EN
www.eesc.europa.eu

© European Union, 2015
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

QE-01-15-435-EN-N
ISBN 978-92-830-2787-4
doi:10.2864/484519

EN

REG.NO. BE - BXL - 27