By sex groups, the gap between the two unemployment rates was 1.0 percentage point (6.0% for men versus 5.0% for women) and, by residential area, it was 5.2 percentage points (8.6% for rural areas vesus 3.4% for urban areas). The unemployment rate reached the highest level (21.0%) among young people aged 15-24 years old.
In 2021, the employment rate for population aged 20-64 years old was 67.1%, increasing by 1.9 percentage points compared to 2020.
In 2021, the economically active population of Romania was 8,214 thousand people, of whom 7,755 thousand were employed people and 459 thousand were unemployed persons.
In 2021, the employment rate for working age population (15-64 years old) was 61.9%, increasing by 1.7 percentage points as compared to 2020. As in the previous years, the employment rate was higher for men (71.1% versus 52.5% for women). By residence area, the employment rate was higher for residents in urban areas (67.2% versus 55.5% in rural areas). The employment rate for youths (15-24 years old) was 21.2%, while for elderly (55-64 years) was 43.8%.
The highest employment rate for the working age population was recorded by graduates with higher education (80.1%). 54.1% of people with medium level of education and 20.9% of those with low level of education were employed.
The number of employees, increasing as compared to the previous year (+89 thousand people), continues to hold the highest weight among employment (84.9%). In 2021, self-employed and contributing family workers represented 13.7% of total employment.
The distribution of employed population by ownership type shows the private sector absorbed 81.7% of the employed people; the public sector concentrated 17.4% of the employment and 0.9% of employed people worked in the mixed sector.
Out of the total number of employed people, 11.8% worked in the agricultural sector, 32.9% in industry and constructions and 55.3% in services. In non-agricultural activities 6.844 thousand people were employed, significant shares being held by those working in manufacturing (22.3%), trade (20.0%) and constructions (11.2%).