Even if they have been seriously affected by the overlapping crises in 2022, 40% of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of Moldova aim to invest in equipment, technologies and spaces. 10% of the business entities want to invest in the creation of new jobs. The employers in 2022 experienced a labor shortage of 18%, up 2% on a year before. The forecast for 2023 shows the number of business entities that invoke the shortage of skilled workers as one of the main reasons of the non-filling of vacancies grew three times, IPN reports, quoting a study of the labor force market for 2023 from the perspective of employers, which was carried out by the National Employment Agency.
Of all the respondents that said they experience a shortage of workers, 58% are from the municipality of Chisinau, followed by North region – 17%, Center region –15%, South region – 7% and ATU Gagauzia – 3%. According to the study, the fluctuation of employees is at a rather high level and prevails in wholesale and retail trade, public administration and defense, processing industry, health and social assistance. Compared with the previous years, the employment chances of skilled workers have increased, primarily in the municipality of Chisinau and in Center region. One of the major goals of employers is to keep the valuable employees and to recruit appropriate candidates for key posts.
The big labor shortage made the recruitment of personnel by employers difficult. The existing personnel had to work more. The business entities were obliged to organize internal training for the personnel. Particular orders had to be turned down and this led to a decline in production and services.
Employers expect in 2023 they will experience a shortage of specialists in public administration and defense, mandatory social insurance, ICT. Among the occupations that are marked by labor shortage are: seamstresses, managers and personnel in the hospitality industry. Besides the shortage of skilled workers with experiences, the employers noted the low number of applicants and the impossibility of offering an adequate salary.
The small and mediums-sized enterprises were most seriously hit by the crisis. Their activities were affected by the energy crisis, the war in the neighboring country, supply chain disruptions, decrease in demand of products and services (down from 21% to 19% in 2022). By economic activities, the demand for goods, products and services in wholesale and retail trade, building, transport and storage is expected to decline. Most of the employers tend to make short-term plans and strategies and avoid designing medium- and long-term strategies.
