Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova
Moldova: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 58.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova is 58.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova peaked at 61.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 26.2%, in 1991.
That places Moldova 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 26.2% | — |
| 1992 | 26.6% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 26.8% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 27.7% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 28.5% | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 29.4% | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 30.2% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 31.1% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 31.8% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 36.5% | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 38.9% | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 40.7% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 42.9% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 42.9% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 44.2% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 47.6% | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 49.8% | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 49.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 55.3% | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 55.1% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 56.7% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 57.4% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 59.2% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 60.5% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 61.6% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 60.1% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 59.6% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 59.3% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 59.1% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 58.8% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 58.6% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 58.5% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 58.6% | +0.1% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 58.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 58.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.3%, 5.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.7% | 26.2% | 31.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 44.4% | 36.5% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.5% | 55.1% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.7% | 58.5% | 59.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
More work & labour data for Moldova
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 654.38 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 72.49 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 1,725 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 1.5 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.726 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 24,890 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 5,854 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 71.4 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) -0.868 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.4043 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Moldova was 58.6% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 61.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.2% in 1991.
- How does Moldova rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Moldova ranks 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Moldova data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).