In the 2nd trimester of 2006, the economically active population (employed and unemployed) of the Republic of Moldova constituted 1.411 mln persons, figure which is by 3% compared with the similar period of the last year. According to the data of the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of women decreased by 8%, while that of men – by 2.2%. The share of the rural population was higher compared with the urban one (56.4% and respectively 43.6%), tendency which was registered the last year, too. The activity rate of the active population (of the total citizens aged 15 and more) constituted 48.1%, lower figure by 2.2 percentage points (p.p.), registering higher values among men – 52%, in comparison with women – 44.7%. Among the urban population, the activity rate reached 49.6%, compared with 47% in urban zones. The highest rate of activity – 73.2% was attested within the age category of 50-54 years and the category 15-64 years – 53%. The employed population constituted about 1.321 mln persons, by 2.8% less compared with the similar period of the last year. The share of men was approximately equal to the one of women. In the distribution on residence regions, in the rural regions 57.5% were registered and in urban – 42.5%. The employment rate of the 15 years old and more category of population was 45%, decreasing by 2 p.p., in the 15-64 years category – 49.5%. The share of 25-54 years old persons constituted 72.7% of the total, maintaining in this way the level of the second semester of 2005. The persons with general and professional education were employed at 44.6%, those with higher education – 18.8%, persons with medium specialized education and with lower education – 16.4 and respectively, 17.6%. Among employed persons with higher education women constituted 50.9%. In the rural localities the specialists with higher education constituted only one third of the total employed population or 3-fold less compared with urban population. About one third – 37% - of the total employed person activated in the agricultural sector. The share of persons working in industry constituted 12.5%, in commerce and hotel activities – about 15%. Persons employed in the medical and educational system reached the level of 13.5%. According to the distribution on property forms, 70.6% of the population worked in unities with private property form and over one quarter (25.4%) – in unities with public property form. The share of the private sector was predominant in agriculture (97.6%), in commerce (96.1%), in constructions (94.4%), in hotel activity (89.1%), in processing industry (71.9%). 30% of the total employed persons are working on their own. Employers constituted 1% of the total employed population, of them 54.9% were involved in trade activities. Of the total informally employed persons, one third is receiving wages. At the same time 19.3% of the persons receiving wages had an informal place of work.