The number of unemployed rose significantly in the following counties: Bacau (2,500 people), Valcea (2,465), Prahova (2,280), Galati (1,983), and Constanta (1,962), while the highest jobless rates were registered in the Vaslui (10.3 percent), Mehedinti (9.8 percent), Teleorman (8.6 percent), Dolj (8.5 percent), and Gorj (8 percent).
The largest number of layoffs was in the construction sector, agriculture, and the wood industry. While drafting this year’s budget, the government considered that 100,000 more people would be laid off this year than in 2008, with a 5.5 percent unemployment rate. However, given that the number of unemployed rose by more than 400,000 in a single month, and companies announced a similar number of layoffs for the coming months, the government’s forecast could be exceeded by the end of this year’s first half.
ANOFM’s President, Silviu Bian, continues to be optimistic and said that the large number of unemployed is due to seasonal unemployment, and companies will start recruiting again as of March. “The situation is not yet worrisome. Romania continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. We have some 11,000 vacancies at present which can be occupied by unemployed. It is all up to them, if they want to work,” Bian told Business Standard.
