The main merit of the industrial output (7.3%) lies with the privately-owned and export-oriented manufacturing industry. This industry has received several new orders and created most of the over 29,000 new and well-paid jobs In the first quarter of 2009. The number of employees increased in several industrial branches, despite fears that raising the minimum wage from 1 February 2017 would deter employers.
In the first quarter of 2017, industrial output grew by 7.3% compared with the same period last year. It is the largest increase for this period in the last three years. It is an increase almost four times faster than the EU average of 2%. Thus, Romania ranks fourth in the EU on quarterly growth, after Estonia, Greece and Latvia.
Growth is mainly driven by the manufacturing industry, which has grown by 7.9%, being a predominantly private, competitive and export-oriented industry. The majority of the manufacturing industries are booming: manufacture of pharmaceuticals (+ 9.7%), the metallurgical industry (+ 7.3%), the textile products industry (+ 6.6%), the transport industry (+ 6.4%) ".
The high potential for industrial production growth is evidenced by the same manufacturing industry, which received 12.7% more new orders. Higher demand was recorded for durable goods (+ 20.4%) and for intermediate goods (+ 18%). By sector, the largest increases are in metallurgy (+ 45.1%), manufacture of other transport equipment (+ 30.4%) and road transport vehicles (+ 19.4%).
Labor productivity in industry advanced 5.7 percent. The highest increases were recorded in the manufacture of electrical equipment (+ 15.5%), road transport vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (+ 15.3%), other transport (+ 8.9%), pharmaceuticals preparations (+ 8%).
The industry has generated over 29,000 new paid jobs, equivalent to a 2.2% increase. Most of the new posts also come from the manufacturing industry, which hired people mainly for the manufacture of: computer and electronic and optical products (9.0%); Paper and paper products (8.9%); Electrical equipment (8.8%); Rubber and plastic products (7.8%); Road transport vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (6.6%); Beverages (5.2%); Textiles (4.9%). (Source: Agerpres)
