Moldova Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Moldova's industry employment was 12.55% in 2025, ranked 29th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Moldova's industry employment stood at 12.55% in 2025, a decline of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 12.83% by 2026. Moldova ranked 29th globally.
Moldova’s share of its labour force employed in industry fell from 22.04 percent in 1991 to a low of 9.89 percent in 2017, marking the all‑time trough for the 35‑year series, before a modest rebound to 12.55 percent in 2025, which places the country 29th globally. The peak of 23.67 percent in 1992 occurred during the immediate post‑Soviet transition, when industrial output remained relatively high before the rapid de‑industrialisation of the 1990s and early 2000s. The recent figure is closely aligned with peers such as Kenya (12.48 percent) and the Channel Islands (12.65 percent), suggesting that Moldova’s industrial employment is now moving in step with other economies that have modest manufacturing bases and growing service sectors. Continued investment in high‑value manufacturing and diversification of the industrial base could accelerate the upward trajectory, while further declines in global demand for low‑cost goods would likely reverse the modest gains observed since the 2017 trough.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 12.93% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 12.88% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 12.83% | - | - |
| 2025 | 12.55% | −0.02% | #29 |
| 2024 | 12.57% | −0.75% | #29 |
| 2023 | 13.32% | +0.64% | #33 |
| 2022 | 12.68% | +0.44% | #32 |
| 2021 | 12.24% | +0.05% | #30 |
| 2020 | 12.20% | +0.83% | #31 |
| 2019 | 11.37% | +0.87% | #27 |
| 2018 | 10.49% | +0.61% | #22 |
| 2017 | 9.89% | −0.35% | #23 |
| 2016 | 10.24% | −0.28% | #24 |
| 2015 | 10.52% | −0.09% | #27 |
| 2014 | 10.62% | −0.23% | #26 |
| 2013 | 10.85% | −0.85% | #25 |
| 2012 | 11.70% | −0.10% | #28 |
| 2011 | 11.80% | +0.11% | #31 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Moldova matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Moldova's industry employment was 12.55% in 2025. Ranked 29th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
Moldova's industry employment peaked at 23.67% in 1992.
The lowest industry employment in Moldova was 9.89% in 2017.
Moldova ranks 29th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Moldova's industry employment is projected to reach 12.83% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Moldova in 2025 was 12.55%. This ranks 29th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_moldova_industry-employment,
title = {Moldova Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/moldova/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}