Exploring the education and labour market ecosystem across regions in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The alignment between education, vocational training, and the labour market is fundamental to the Republic of Moldova’s socioeconomic development. Accelerated demographic transformations and significant out-migration are reshaping both the supply of skills and the demand for labour, while regional disparities amplify these challenges. The present paper examines the education-labour market nexus across Moldova’s regions, with a focus on regional diversity in employment and sectoral profiles that shape human capital development and vocational training provision. Using data from national statistical sources, the study applies a descriptive-comparative approach to examine the interaction between education and the labour market. The analysis reveals important imbalances among regions: the capital demonstrates higher employment levels and wage opportunities, while regions struggle with lower employment, higher vulnerability, and uneven access to vocational and technical education. The findings suggest that bridging the gap between educational outputs and labour market requirements demands strengthening regional labour market matching and supporting diversification of peripheral economies to address the self-reinforcing cycle of disparities.