As of January 1, 2025, the average projected salary for the economy reached 16,100 lei. This amount is used to calculate social benefits and to determine the monthly insurance income of IT Park employees, as well as to calculate damages in case of violation of legislation.
The national minimum wage, which serves as a starting amount for social and health contributions, increased by 500 lei and now amounts to 5,500 lei for a full-time schedule (169 hours) or 32.52 lei per hour.
Also, teachers’ salaries have increased since the beginning of the year. Depending on their didactic degree – by 7.4-15.1%. At the same time, the payments for the managerial degree have been increased, on average by almost 900 lei. The salaries of methodologists and heads of clubs in kindergartens have also increased, due to the increase of the labor remuneration class.
The salaries of 17,000 employees of the police, rescue services and penitentiary system increased by 9%. Salaries in the health care system have also increased by 15% on average. The increase affected 51 thousand doctors and medical personnel.
Other significant changes in labor remuneration include a 10% increase in income tax exemptions. At the same time, the amount of income at which a person can be recognized as a dependent has been increased.
The list of non-taxable sources of income of individuals has been expanded. It includes income in the form of capital gains or interest on government securities purchased directly on the website of the Ministry of Finance and on bonds issued by local governments.
The income of individuals – producers of electricity from renewable sources who sell their surplus back to the grid – has also been removed from taxation.
The Moldovan labor market is characterized by imbalance of supply and demand, shortage of qualified personnel and decreasing demand for low-paid jobs from workers. There is a general reduction in the number of people employed in the economy and migration of labor force abroad. At the same time, the unemployment rate is decreasing.
The employment rate in Moldova is low and averaged 42.90% from 2000 to 2024, reaching a historical high of 56.70% in the second quarter of 2000 and a record low of 34.30% in the first quarter of 2012. It rose slightly at the end of last year (43.9%).
Agriculture remains the main employer in Moldova, especially in rural areas. Although the labor force, due to internal migration, is concentrated mainly in urban areas.
The subsistence minimum in Moldova is one of the lowest: less than €100. In terms of living standards, the country ranks last, being called the poorest country in the region of South-Eastern Europe. Every third person lives below the line defined by the subsistence minimum (absolute poverty rate of 33.6% in 2024). In rural areas, 43% of people live below the poverty line. Income inequality is growing. The degree of stratification of society in terms of consumption is increasing, especially in urban areas.
