Data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) indicates that the construction sector employed only 350,000 workers in September 2009 compared to 425,000 in the corresponding month of 2008. “The relaunch of the construction sector will not happen before September 2010. Until then, layoffs will continue, though at a lower rate,” said Dan Ioan Popp, President of Impact Developer&Contractor. Impact’s President said that the state should lower taxes to reduce black market construction activity, rather than putting pressure on companies to cut prices.

Laurenţiu Plosceanu, President of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs in Romania (ARACO), also said that layoffs will continue at the same rate, at least until March 2010. “There is no reason for layoffs not to continue at the same pace. No sooner than March-April will we know more clearly what financing will be available for the 2010 projects,” indicated Plosceanu, advocating that the state engage in a dialogue with players in this sector, and that it should have had a more aggressive position in terms of investments in the construction sector.

“What the textile industry is losing now will never be recovered. I estimate that the situation will stabilize in October 2010,” said Sorina Plăcintă, owner of the Sorste Focşani textile factory.

Ion Iordache, Vice President of the Automobile Dacia trade union, said that layoffs in the car manufacturing industry will continue nationwide. “Traditionally, car sales decline in winter, so the pace of layoffs will be constant. In March, however, I expect recruitment to be resumed in this sector,” indicated Iordache.