The labor market has shrunk
The number of labor force (economically active population aged 15 years and older) amounted to 830.9 thousand people, which is 6.3% less than in the third quarter of 2025. The number of employed persons also decreased – to 806.4 thousand people, which means a decrease of 5.8%.
The employment rate was 40.8%, down 2.6 percentage points from the previous quarter (43.4%). At the same time, employment among men remains higher at 45%, while among women it is 37.4%. In urban areas, the employment rate reaches 47.8%, while in rural areas it reaches 35.5%.
According to statistics, the highest unemployment rate is among young people aged 25-34.
Despite the reduction in the number of employed people, the unemployment rate has decreased. In the fourth quarter it amounted to 2.9%, which is 0.6 percentage points less than in the third quarter. According to statisticians’ estimates, the number of unemployed amounted to 24.5 thousand people, which is 6.5 thousand less than a quarter earlier.
At the same time, the number of people not participating in the labor market is growing. The economically inactive population (persons over 15 years old, not working and not looking for a job) reached 1.143 million people, increasing by 5.2%. The main part of this category consists of pensioners, pupils and students. More than 12% of the inactive are those already working or planning to work abroad. Their number increased by 0.8 p.p. compared to the third quarter of 2025.
The number of available jobs in the labor market has also decreased. According to statistics, about 31.9 thousand vacancies were registered at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, which is 5.7% less than a quarter earlier.
The largest number of vacancies was recorded in the following areas:
- Public Administration and Defense – 7.9 thousand vacancies;
- health care and social assistance – 4.7 thousand vacancies;
- Education – 4 thousand.
The budget sector accounts for 41% of all vacancies.
Recall, the government plans to employ this year 25 thousand people, and for four years – 100 thousand. At the same time, the head of the State Chancellery Alexei Buzu called the figure of 100 thousand employed “the minimum target”.minimum target“.
