Vyacheslav Ionitsa
Veaceslav Ioniță, former chairman of the parliamentary commission for economy, budget and finance, writes about this in his economic analysis.
In 2025, the industry showed a 5.4% growth after a 1.1% decline in the previous year, Ionita states. However, in general, both quantitatively and in terms of time, as the expert believes, this is not indicative.
He notes that in recent years, only 2021 and 2025 were marked by growth, while the period between them marked a gradual decline. Because of this, even with the growth seen last year, the level of industrial production is about 95% of the figure for 2021. This indicates a general decline in industrial production.
Moreover, compared to 1990, which recorded the historical peak of industrial production, today Moldova’s industrial output is only 66.7% of that volume.
“In fact, at the level of the 1980s,” says the expert. – We have neither a paradigm of industrial development, nor growth points, nor a clear vision. Therefore, if nothing is done, nothing will happen.
Regional nature of the recession
He emphasizes the regional nature of the decline. While on the right bank of the Nistru River the industry is at 66.7% of the 1990 level, on the left bank the production volume has decreased to 23.8%. In 2025, in the Transnistrian region, industry indicators have decreased by about 30%, and the prospects for recovery are “doubtful”.
The process of deindustrialization leads to a decrease in the share of industry in GDP. It decreased from 87% in 1990 to only 25.5% in 2025. So we are also talking about the acceleration of this process.
Decline in employment
This is reflected in the employment rate. Thus, if in 1990 about 410 thousand people worked in the industrial sectors, in 2025 their number has fallen to just over 115 thousand – the lowest level of employment in the last 65 years. At the same time, 96.5 thousand workers are employed in industry on the right bank. That’s 15 thousand fewer than in 2019.
The biggest losses are in export-oriented industries: textiles, automotive components, food and apparel.
Moreover, the cost per employee in Moldova today reached 24.1% against 16-17% in neighboring countries. Salaries are growing due to inflation and migration, while productivity remains low.
“The level of technology is weak, we produce goods with low added value. If investments in innovation and modern technologies are not made, Moldova will lose this industry,” Ioniță warns.
