Interview by Dan Cărbunaru – Director of Calea Europeană
In an interview for CaleaEuropeană.ro, Stefano Scarpetta, Director of the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs (ELS) Directorate of the OECD, discussed Romania’s labour market in the context of its accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He highlighted both the progress made and the challenges that still need to be addressed.
Scarpetta emphasized that no country is perfect, but Romania has shown the right approach by recognizing existing issues, making progress, and being open to learning from other countries. “The spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and mutual learning is what makes OECD an important place to be part of,” he stated. Romania’s constructive engagement in the Employment, Labour, and Social Affairs Committees has been a key factor in advancing its accession process.
One of the major challenges discussed was Romania’s significant workforce migration. Over the past two decades, millions of Romanians have sought employment in OECD and EU member states, attracted by better working conditions and higher wages. Scarpetta noted that while international experience can be valuable, Romania must focus on improving its own working conditions, wages, and productivity to encourage skilled workers to return. “You have a huge talent pool, not only in Romania but also in other European countries,” he said, adding that economic growth and job creation are essential to reversing this trend.
The OECD official also highlighted labour market disparities, particularly in female participation and youth employment. The high proportion of young people who are neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET) is a pressing concern. He stressed the need for Romania to better integrate these individuals into the workforce to maximize its human capital.
Addressing the broader benefits of OECD membership, Scarpetta cited examples from Latin America, where initial skepticism about joining the organisation gave way to broad support. He explained that OECD membership provides access to valuable policy insights, best practices, and international dialogue, all of which can accelerate economic and social development. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time—learning from others helps speed up the process of good reforms,” he explained.
Looking to the future, Scarpetta acknowledged the multiple transformations affecting labour markets globally, including digitalization, artificial intelligence, the green transition, and demographic shifts. These changes create both challenges and opportunities, requiring adaptable policies and a workforce equipped with the necessary skills. “Policy plays an essential role, but we must also equip people to withstand shocks and grasp opportunities,” he noted.
Education and lifelong learning are central to this adaptation. While some argue that older education systems were better, the OECD official underscored the importance of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving. “If we lack foundational skills, everything else becomes more difficult,” he warned, emphasizing that education systems must evolve to meet the demands of a changing labour market.
Overall, Romania’s accession to the OECD represents a crucial step in its economic development, Scarpetta noted. While challenges remain, the country’s willingness to engage in reforms, learn from international experiences, and invest in human capital will determine the long-term success of this process.
Stefano Scarpetta has been the Director of the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs (ELS) Directorate of the OECD since 2013. Stefano Scarpetta leads the work of the Organisation in a number of broad areas including Employment, Labour, Migration, Health, Skills, Gender and Tackling Inequalities and contributes to the implementation of the Secretary-General’s strategic orientations in these areas. Stefano represents the OECD in the G20 and G7 and many other high-level international fora on labour market, social, migration and health issues. Under his leadership, ELS provides continuous assistance and support to countries in the design, implementation and evaluation of polices drawing from evidence-based analyses of how policy affects different economic, labour and social outcomes. His advice has contributed to numerous policy reforms in OECD countries and beyond, and new policy thinking in areas ranging from inequalities, labour market inclusion and the future of work, social protection for all, the integration of migrants, the economics of public health and patient-centred health care.
