Moldova Quintuples Budget for Unemployed Workers’ Training

The budget for training the unemployed has increased fivefold: initial results of the voucher programme

The National Employment Agency’s (ANOFM) new approach to the issue of employment has already yielded tangible results. An increase in the budget for staff training and retraining has made it possible to improve on previous years’ figures and stimulate demand. In the first eight months of 2026, 1,751 people were enrolled on vocational training courses using vouchers, compared with 700 for the whole of 2025.

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The rationale for the sharp increase in the budget was developed as part of measures to reduce the level of economic inactivity (particularly among NEETs, where the proportion of those neither in employment nor in education reached almost 30 per cent).

In addition to short-term courses, over the first 9–10 months of 2026, with the assistance of ANOFM, a total of more than 20,020 people found work, of whom 6,309 were officially registered as unemployed.

The majority of beneficiaries are enrolled via the newly launched digital platform voucher.anofm.md, which allows the unemployed to choose an accredited provider and training course themselves. ANOFM has now opened registration for service providers for the coming year, 2027.

In 2026, a clear list of the most in-demand and popular vocational specialisms emerged in the labour market as part of ANOFM’s training voucher programme. Unemployed citizens most often choose practical courses leading to rapid entry into the workforce in the sectors of retail, services, catering, transport and light industry.

Overall ranking of professions under the ANOFM voucher programme

Chef (Bucătar) — the clear leader in terms of the number of applications submitted and available training places in the country.
Hairdresser (Frizer / Coafeză) — the most popular specialism in the services sector, offering a quick route to self-employment.
Data Entry Operator (Operator introducere date) — the leading choice for those wishing to acquire basic digital skills for office work.
Confectioner (Cofetar) — consistently high demand in the catering and manufacturing sectors.
Sales assistant / Cashier — the retail sector offers the quickest route to employment immediately after completing the course.
Seamstress / Tailor (Cusător) — the specialism with the highest total number of vacancies from factories and textile manufacturers.
Electric welder (Electrogazosudor) — the highest-paid blue-collar profession amongst men.
Car Mechanic / Mechanic — there is steady demand for vehicle repair and maintenance across all regions of Moldova.
Accounting Assistant (with knowledge of 1C) — a popular short-term retraining course for small businesses.
Nanny / Governess (Bonă) — rounds off the top ten due to the growing demand for certified childcare staff.