Significant Real Wage Growth Recorded
Moldova's real average gross wage increased by 1.9% in 2025, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. This growth signifies an improvement in the purchasing power of the Moldovan workforce. The average gross monthly salary for the year stood at 15,472 lei, which translates to approximately $888 or 765 euros. In nominal terms, the average gross wage saw a substantial rise of 9.8% over the year.
Sectoral and Public vs. Private Wage Dynamics
The fourth quarter of 2025 provided further insights into wage dynamics, with the average gross monthly salary reaching 16,355.1 lei. During this period, the real wage index indicated a 1.8% real-term increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
A notable disparity was observed between the public and private sectors:
- The average gross salary in the public sector was 14,256.4 lei, marking a 10.9% nominal increase.
- The private sector recorded a higher average gross wage of 17,078.9 lei, with an 8.3% nominal increase.
Certain sectors demonstrated significantly higher average earnings. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector led with an average gross salary of 37,144 lei in Q4 2025. Other high-earning sectors included financial and insurance activities at 30,146 lei and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and hot water at 25,405 lei. Conversely, the lowest average wages were found in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (10,776 lei), accommodation and catering (11,432 lei), and arts and entertainment (12,397 lei).
Broader Economic Context and Future Outlook
This wage growth comes as Moldova's economy continues its recovery from multiple shocks. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected an economic growth rate of 2.7% for Moldova in 2025. Robust wage and credit growth are contributing to household consumption and investment. The average number of employees also saw a modest increase of 1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Looking ahead, the average monthly salary in the Moldovan economy is forecasted to reach 17,400 lei in 2026. Additionally, the minimum wage is set to increase to 6,300 lei starting January 1, 2026.
5 Comments
Raphael
The huge gap between sectors is alarming. What about those in agriculture?
Leonardo
Don't be fooled, this small increase won't fix systemic poverty.
Raphael
Great to see real wages finally increasing! This is a positive step forward for Moldova.
Donatello
The reported increase in purchasing power is good, especially with the economy recovering. However, the average wage of $888 still puts Moldova far below living standards in much of Europe.
Raphael
It's encouraging to see the economy recovering and wages rising for some, but the vast disparities between sectors mean many are still being left behind without adequate pay.