Why Do We Need a Reform of the National Employment Agency?
Automatically translated summary. The full text is available in Romanian.
Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” argues that Moldova’s National Employment Agency (ANOFM) needs reform. The analysis, carried out with the Institute for Strategic Initiatives (IPIS) and supported by the Soros Foundation Moldova, examines institutional weaknesses, jobseekers’ perceptions and the agency’s fit with local socio-economic realities.
Labour market data point to imbalances between supply and demand. In 2022, 17% of employers surveyed by ANOFM reported labour shortages, mostly citing a lack of experienced skilled staff (71%). On average, only 1 in 4 registered vacancies is filled by placed jobseekers, while about 80% of the unemployed are unqualified. The labour force participation rate was 41.1% in 2021, against 56.8% in the EU.
Reforming ANOFM is a priority in the Government’s programme and in the National Employment Programme 2022-2026, which envisage stronger capacities, digital services and more funding for active measures. The study draws on a representative survey of 708 current or former registered jobseekers, conducted by CBS-Research and analysed by Expert-Grup, and offers recommendations for a successful reform.
Recent publications from Labour market
See all
Revitalising Social Dialogue in the Republic of Moldova: Identifying Gaps Against EU Regulations and Good Practices
Labour Market: Wage Growth Tricks vs. Demographic Reflections and Realities
Reform of the State Labour Inspectorate: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
