Economic Growth and Labor Quality in Romania in the Light of the 2030 Agenda - A Comparative Insight with the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between economic growth and labor market dynamics in Romania, within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8). The aim is to empirically assess how GDP evolution influences the main labor market indicators: employment rate, total and youth unemployment, real average wage and labor productivity. The analysis uses annual data for the period 1996-2025 and combines descriptive methods with linear regression. The results highlight a positive relationship between economic growth and labor productivity, as well as a moderate correlation with employment. However, GDP only partially explains labor market developments, which are also shaped by structural factors such as human capital and institutional rigidities. The persistence of youth unemployment and the gap between wages and productivity reveal the limits of translating economic growth into decent work. Economic growth is necessary, but not sufficient for achieving SDG 8. JEL: E24; O47; J21; C22; UDC: [330.35+330.55+331.5]”2030”(478+498)