Austerity strikes in “budgetary counties”. The place in Romania where less than a quarter of the population is officially employed

In Romania there are true “counties of the budget”, territorial administrative units where the number of employees in the state is the same or even higher than those of the private. Also in these counties the number of pensioners and those without occupation exceeds that of the employees.

Civil servants working at the archive photo of the archive

In a Romania with a strong budget deficit, with a population subject to draconic economic recovery measures, there are bizarre realities, almost difficult to believe. For example, in the country there are counties in which the pensioners far exceed the number of employees, the state is the main employer and the number of those who work officially does not exceed a quarter of the population. They are usually among the poorest areas in Romania but also those that will feel the most austerity packages of the Government. One of these counties is Botosani, a territorial administrative unit located at the northern end of Romania.

The county in which only 15% of the population is working officially

Botoșani County is a true pearl of the North, especially in terms of the beauties of nature, of the richness of historical vestiges but also of the extraordinary agricultural value. To which are added special mineral reserves but also consistent water reserves. However, Botosani is one of the poorest counties in Romania with social and economic problems highlighted by hallucinating statistics. According to the data from the County Directorate of Statistics less than a quarter of the county's population works with legal forms.

“At the level of Botoșani county in the labor balance, we have data registered for January 1, 2024 with a working population of 245 600 and the number of employees, at the end of April 2025, was 62 143 people”says Valentin Popa, director of the Botoșani County Statistics Directorate. Itself of the total of the work capable only 30% work. To these are added a percentage of 4% unemployed looking for a job. What happens to 66% of the hard -working Botosanians who are not in any category, ie neither employees nor unemployed? Some are abroad, others live in work by day, but there are those who receive social help. No one knows exactly how many work abroad and how many day.

In the poor hamlets there is a contingent of people who, officially, have no form of income. All these people have neither medical insurance nor contribute to the pension fund. The statistics are also known at the level of the county authorities that consider the situation unacceptable. Especially due to the fact that from a population of several hundred thousand inhabitants and an active force of 200,000 people, only a few tens of thousands carry economic hard. “We are around 400,000 inhabitants and there are only 60 and some thousands of employees. Is it absolutely incredible. Where are the rest of people? Work in black? Seasoners abroad? I do not understand why does not anyone take the horns bull to find out at least these questions. But we stay and tolerate this situation and we are now.”says Valeriu Iftime, president of the Botosani County Council.

More pensioners than employees

The situation is as serious in terms of population aging. The number of pensioners, according to national statistics, exceeds 25.2% of employees. That is, there are more pensioners than people in the field of work. This reality is visible to the naked eye in the villages of the county. But the situation is the same throughout Moldova. The population of the villages decreases vertiginously, and in the hamlets, for example, people over 70, get to exceed 70% of the total number of inhabitants. Obviously, in the context in which the number of employees stays lower than the pensioners appears the legitimate question “Who will pay pensions?”. In the care of the elders there were many of the children of those who left abroad. In other words, almost half of the county's population is made up of pensioners and children.

State, the largest employer in Botosani

From the employed population, that is, out of the over 60,000 employees, half are budget. And some, even recognize the heads of the county, deal more with the view. “Of the 60 and something of thousands of employees half are in the state and half to private what is, again, absolutely incredible. In us there are disproportionate functions. That is, very few technical, execution, and many viewers”adds Valeriu Iftime.

For example, in Botosani, the big companies cannot compete with the state institutions when it comes to the number of employees. The largest employer of the county is the “Mavromati” Botoșani County Hospital with almost 2000 employees. This does not mean that at the County Hospital there are sufficient employees, there is a deficit of staff on some sections. The statistics only show that the Romanian state is the largest employer especially in the poor counties.

“The dream of many employees in Botosani is to work in the state”

A 42-year-old Botosani who wanted to keep his anonymity was employed both in the state sector, in education, but also in the private one, especially after the austerity period of 2008-2010. He confesses that the dream of most Botosani is to take a budget place. Some would be satisfied even with a driver, goalkeeper or magazine position.

“To get a state post is a dream for most. And the explanation is simple: they are absolutely convinced that it is a life post, from there they retire. Stability is the most important. I feel that they do not have this stability. In addition, the salary is at the fixed date. All to work in the state.confesses the Botoşănean. Botoșani is not the only county in Romania in this situation. There are counties where the number of employees in the state is higher, in thousands of inhabitants.

For example, in 2023, Gorjul, Hunedoara, Tulcea and Caraș Severin had the most budget related to the population. At the same time, counties such as Teleorman, Giurgiu or Vasluiul register a larger number of pensioners than employees and also face poverty and depopulation in the rural area. These counties will be among the most affected by the packages of austerity measures proposed by the government. And due to the fact that the population already with economic and social problems will hardly receive the increases caused by VAT increase. We are not talking about the fact that being “budgetary counties” the administrative measures and the ceiling of the bonuses will affect a good part of the employees. “Will definitely be affected. There are those who will lose that sport of harmful conditions. I remain without money for a rate. Sure will give them the calculation over the head“Adds the Botosani.