Dragos Pislaru: The employment rate in Romania is a disaster

The interim Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, characterized the employment rate of the workforce in Romania as a "catastrophe," mentioning that it stands at 69% for individuals aged between 20 and 64 years. Pîslaru warned that the pressure on the labor market will significantly increase in the period 2032-2034, when the "decree-law generation" will retire.

He emphasized that the deficit of workforce and skills is a structural problem, exacerbated by the forced migration of young people. The Minister proposed a mixed funding model, based on European funds, national money, and investments from the private sector, to address the critical issues of Romania's development. Pîslaru also highlighted the importance of investing in human capital and innovation to overcome the middle-income trap and reduce poverty, which affects the labor market.

The high-level conference on labor force deficit and surplus in Europe recently took place in Bucharest, against the backdrop of increasingly pronounced imbalances in the labor market at the European level.