Proportion of informal employment in total employment

Sub-categories

Choose categories from the dropdowns below to see different breakdowns of the data. Some will not be available until a higher level is chosen.

Download headline data (.csv) Download source data (.csv)

Download source data for disaggregations (.csv)

Headline data

8.3.1. Proportion of informal employment in total employment
Year Value
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014 25.0
2015 25.9
2016 26.3
2017 24.4
2018 25.0
2019 23.128
2020 22.381
2021 22.791
2022 21.97
2023 22.952
2024 20.553
2025 17.318

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Geographical Area: The Republic of Moldova, without the left side of the river Nistru and the municipality of Bender

Unit of Measurement: Percent, %

Footnote:

Breaks in time series:

Important revisions to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) methodology (use of the usually resident population, implementation of a new sampling, modification/adjustment of definitions, etc.) took place in 2019 and 2025, which should be taken into account in the longitudinal analysis of the data.

Therefore:

- data for the period 2019–2024 are not comparable with the series published for previous periods;

- data starting from 2025 are not comparable with those published for the period 2019–2024.

For the period 2019–2024, the data are estimated based on the usually resident population calculated on the basis of the 2014 Population and Housing Census (PHC). The survey was conducted according to the Multifunctional Master Sample Plan for Surveys in the Social Domain 2 (EMDOS 2), developed on the basis of the 2014 PHC.

Starting from 2025, the data are estimated based on the usually resident population recalculated on the basis of the 2024 PHC. The survey is conducted according to the new EMDOS 3 sampling plan, developed on the basis of the 2024 PHC.

Data for the years 2014-2018 were recalculated based on the new definition of employment, used in practice starting in 2019.

Details: LFS Methodology: https://statistica.gov.md/files/files/Metadate/alte/Metodologia_AFM_2025.pdf

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Moldovan statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Moldovan-specific metadata information.

Indicator

Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total employment
Definition and concepts
<p>(National definition) Informal employment includes:</p> <p>1) own account workers working in informal sector enterprises;</p> <p>2) employers working in informal sector enterprises;</p> <p>3) members of informal producers’ cooperatives;</p> <p>4) contributing family workers, working in formal or informal sector enterprises;</p> <p>5) employees in formal or informal sector enterprises, or in private households, and meet at least one of the below criteria:</p> <p>- the employer does not pay social contributions for them;</p> <p>- do not benefit from paid annual leave;</p> <p>- in case of illness, do not benefit from paid sick leave.</p>
Unit of measure

Percent, %
Other methodological considerations

In contexts where social protection coverage is limited, social security benefits (such as unemployment insurance) are insufficient or even inexistent, and/or where wages and pensions are low, individuals may have to take up informal employment to ensure their livelihood. In these situations, indicators such as the unemployment rate would provide a very incomplete picture of the labour market situation, overlooking major deficits in the quality of employment. Statistics on informality are key to assessing the quality of employment in an economy and are relevant to developing and developed countries alike.
Method of computation
<p>1. Proportion of informal employment in total employment.</p> <p>2. Proportion of informal employment in agriculture in total employment in agriculture</p> <p>3. Proportion of informal employment in non agricultural employmen in total otal employment in non agricultural activities</p>
Comparability with global indicator
<p>Fully corresponding with the Series “SL_ISV_IFEM_19ICLS - Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 19th ICLS [8.3.1]”:</p> <p>The national definition of employment is based on the latest international standard - the 19th ICLS Resolution (2013). Starting from 2019, persons who produce goods exclusively for their own consumption are no longer considered part of the employed population.</p> <p>Not fully corresponding with the series “SL_ISV_IFEM - Proportion of informal employment, by sector and sex - 13th ICLS [8.3.1]”:</p> <p>The definition of employment for this global indicator follows the statistical standards of the 13th ICLS (1982). Under this older standard, persons who produce goods exclusively for their own consumption continue to be considered part of employment.</p>
Periodicity

Quarterly, Annual
Data last updated Jul 14, 2026
Metadata last updated Jul 14, 2026

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator

Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex
Target

Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
UN designated tier

1
Link to global metadata

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/files/Metadata-08-03-01.pdf
metadata_fields.goal_meta_link_text

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Metadata (PDF)
International organisations(s) responsible for global monitoring

International Labour Organization (ILO)
Related indicators

1.1.1, 1.3.1, 8.5.2
Metadata update

2026-03-27

Source 1

Data sources

Labour Force Survey
Data producers

National Bureau of Statistics
Data providers

National Bureau of Statistics
Institutional mandate

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
Link to data source statistica.gov.md / Statistics by themes / Employment and unemployment opens in a new window
Contact details

ALERGUS-SOLOVIOV Mariana, head, Labour Force Statistics Division, National Bureau of Statistics, mariana.alergus@statistica.gov.md , +373 67770786
Back to top