ADV Romania is preparing to publish the second edition of the Social Economy Barometer in Romania  – the only research report that provides up-to-date data on this sector in Romania.

The report adopted the European definition of the social economy as stated in the Social Economy Action Plan.  The report is a complete and up-to-date synthesis of available official statistical data and, in addition, provides important quantitative and qualitative details as well as assessments of leaders in this sector through the results of a survey among social economy enterprises – the Social Economy Barometer (see the first edition of the Barometer).

Social economy monitor in Romania: Key findings

The dynamics of social economy entities in Romania

Romania has 37,391 employees in the cooperative sector –  the lowest share of workers in the social economy sector – only 0.9%.

Associations and foundations had a positive dynamic, given the favorable fiscal framework for their financing. The number of these organizations has steadily increased – from 2019 to 2020 with 4,277 organizations.

The non-profit sector also has the largest number of employees:  112,656 employees, of which 18,038 are in education and 12,078 in social assistance and care.

The evolution of the emerging sector of certified social enterprises

[su_highlight]2,597 social enterprises were certified in March 2022[/su_highlight]. The extraordinary dynamic of certification is due to available grants through the European Social Fund /Human capital Operational Program 2014-2020

• 2,514 of these social enterprises were registered in 2021 alone.
• 87% of certified social enterprises are incorporated as limited liability companies. The share of commercial companies as a legal form decreased slightly from March 2021 when it reached 88%.
• The total number of employees in social enterprises remains low – only 1,682 workers, of which 420 are from vulnerable groups.
• With 12.3% of social enterprises, non-profits provide 26% of jobs in the social enterprise sector.
• 6 mutual aid houses that requested a certificate account for 6% of the jobs of the entire sector.

[su_note note_color=”#e8dff4″]In Romania, social enterprises are included in a Single Record Register, administered by the National Agency for Employment (which also is the certifying authority).[/su_note]

Geographical distribution of the social enterprises

In all the 41 counties in Romania there is at least one certified social enterprise, the national average being 49 enterprises per county – a the major increase compared to March 2021 when it was 35.

The number of social enterprises in a county varies from 1 in Ilfov county (which was not eligible for European funds for social enterprises) and 299.

The highest density is registered in Alba county – 299 certified social enterprises (up from 229 in the same period last year), followed by Cluj with 186 certified social enterprises and Maramureș with 161.

Top three counties in terms of number of social enterprises are all located in the West or Center of Romania.

The evolution of the emerging sector of WISEs – work integration social enterprises

180 active WISEs in March 2022 – 28 were certified between 2016-2020; 152 were established in between 2021-2022, spurred by existing grants (available through the European Social Fund /Human capital Operational Program 2014-2020).

The final report will also present a top of WISEs with the most employees and the most employees from vulnerable groups.

Key aspects covered in the Barometer of Social Economy in Romania (2022)

Data on the dynamics of social economy entities in Romania.
An analysis of the emerging sectors of certified social enterprises and WISEs, support measures for social enterprises and WISEs.

The results of a survey, in which 109 organisations took part. The questions included in the questionnaire concerned: areas of social character, work integration of disadvantaged groups in social economy enterprises; accreditation and support from public authorities in the field; public policies; green and digital transition; access to markets – public social procurement

The Final Report on the social economy sector in Romania was scheduled to be released in early October 2022.

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