Work performance analysis in bioeconomy: Romania versus the European Union

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the size and performance of the labor force in the bioeconomy sector, both at the level of the European Union and in Romania, with a focus on the evolution of labor productivity. The bioeconomy, as a strategic field of the green economy, integrates activities such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, the food industry, and biotechnology, occupying an important position in the ecological transition and efforts toward economic sustainability. At the European level, the bioeconomy sector contributes significantly to the EU's GDP, providing jobs for over 17 million people, with labor productivity showing an upward trend over the past two decades. Romania, on the other hand, faces major challenges: a constant decline in the active workforce employed in the bioeconomy, productivity levels below the EU average, and a dominant agricultural sector with low economic efficiency. The paper highlights these disparities and underlines the importance of structural reforms, investments in technology, education, and vocational training as necessary solutions for increasing the competitiveness of Romania's bioeconomy. The sustainable development of the bioeconomy sector is closely linked to Romania’s ability to efficiently harness its available human and natural resources.