Romanian Labour Market

In order to create an accurate image of the Romanian labour market, I shall begin by presenting to you just a few statistical data: * Romania’s total population: 21.600.000 * population aged over 15: 18.200.000 * population aged under 15: 3.400.000 * active population: 10.400.000 * working population: 9.200.000 * unemployed: 572.000 * currently employed: 4.600.000.

At a first glance, it appears to be a great difference between the working population number and the currently employed number. But, according to our data, in Romania there are 2.400.000 people working in agriculture under the status of „self employed”. Further more, over 1.600.000 people practice agriculture at a subsistence level.
At the same time, there is a large number of unemployed people who are not registered at the National Agency for Labour Force Occupancy as currently seeking employment. The reasons for that are: * not matching the criteria for unemployment benefit; * undeclared employment, illegal work; * lack of information regarding the services for labour force occupancy.
Concerning the unemployment, the matter is handled by the National Agency for Professional Occupancy and Coaching. The administrative council of this institution consists of three parties: trade unions’, employers’ and government representatives.
The alignment of our country’s legislation to european legislation has determined active measures for decreasing the unemployment rate, such as: * stimulating the employers to employ young graduates, handicapped persons, disadvantaged persons, and persons aged over 45; * granting loans from the unemployment benefit fund to support the building or development of organizations, with the condition that at least 50% of the employees come from the currently unemployed people; * organizing job fairs.
Beginning with the years 2002-2003, determined by the low salary levels in Romania, and the change of