Investing in Human Capital – A Key Response to Moldova’s Demographic Challenges

As the Republic of Moldova faces growing demographic pressures, well-targeted investments in human capital are emerging as a key response to strengthening the country’s economic and social resilience. This message was highlighted during the High-Level Conference on Social Rights, held in Chișinău and organized by the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, UNFPA, UN Women, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The public dialogue, “Invisible Accelerators of Human Capital for Demographic Resilience,” focused on three strategic priorities: developing the care economy to increase women’s participation in the labour market; investing in reproductive health throughout the life course; and promoting new skills, active ageing and labour market inclusion.

Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Country Representative in the Republic of Moldova, emphasized the critical role of investing in care:
“Economies are sustained by unpaid or underpaid care work, carried out largely by women. This is not a secondary issue, but a systemic one that continues to limit women’s economic empowerment. The evidence is clear: public investment in care delivers results. Investments in childcare, long-term care, health and social services create more jobs per unit of spending than traditional infrastructure investments.”

Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, highlighted the impact of supportive public policies:
“Over the past three years, the share of women with young children participating in the labour market has increased from around 37 per cent to over 50 per cent, which means more than 20,000 additional women in employment. This shows that when supportive policies are in place, parents can more easily balance family life and professional activity — to the benefit of families, the economy and society.”

Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research, underlined the importance of skills development and dual education:
“We believe that the best training for young people takes place within companies, and dual education is the most suitable model in this regard. In recent years, we have increased the number of young people enrolled in dual education from 1,000 to 2,000, with a target of 2,500 for 2026. Last year, we engaged around 170 companies, and we are now aiming for 200, while remaining among the few countries that subsidize private sector participation in dual education.”

Emil Ceban, Minister of Health, stressed the importance of integrated investment in health:
“In an increasingly complex demographic context, where migration, population ageing and low labour market participation place growing pressure on public systems, health policies must be designed in an integrated way with social and education policies. Investments in health, including reproductive health, support labour market participation and contribute to a more stable economy. At the same time, they enable people to plan their lives, education and careers, with direct effects on long-term development.”

The event served as a strategic platform for dialogue among policymakers, international organizations and the media, with the aim of identifying sustainable solutions to address population decline, uphold human rights, and strengthen a more attractive socio-economic environment that encourages people to build their future in the Republic of Moldova.