Of the 124 jobs created with state money over the past five years, 115 still exist. That is the track record of the programme through which the National Employment Agency (ANOFM, Agenția Națională pentru Ocuparea Forței de Muncă) helps unemployed people start their own business, with a grant that can reach 309,000 lei (MDL).

For anyone currently looking for work, the figure says something important: becoming your own employer is not just theory. For employers and HR professionals, it says something else: small firms born out of unemployment are appearing on the local market, and they are surviving.

What ANOFM's figures show after five years

The results were presented by Andriana Bruma, senior specialist at ANOFM, on Radio Moldova. In short: 77 grants awarded across 32 districts of the country, 124 jobs created in a range of fields, and 115 of them still in place according to the agency's review.

"Following an analysis, we found that 115 jobs have been maintained, which represents 89% of all subsidised jobs," said Andriana Bruma.

The 89% rate deserves a careful reading. Entrepreneurship support programmes are often criticised for funding businesses that close as soon as their obligations to the funder end. Here, nearly nine in ten jobs have stayed active. The scale, however, remains modest: 77 grants in five years means roughly 15 a year, on average, for the whole country.

Distribution matters too: the 77 grants went to 32 districts, not just Chișinău. In small towns and villages, where job offers are rare, a new firm with two or three employees makes a real difference to the families around it.

How the business start-up grant works

The measure is based on Article 39 of Law No. 105/2018 on employment promotion and unemployment insurance. According to ANOFM's 2026 announcement, the main rules are these:

Who can apply: unemployed people registered with ANOFM who want to set up a new enterprise.

Basic condition: the business must create at least one job, for the grant recipient.

How much is granted: 80% of the costs needed to launch the business and equip the workplace, but no more than 20 average monthly salaries in the economy for the previous year. That puts the ceiling at 309,000 lei.

What the money can be spent on: registering the enterprise, technological equipment, machinery and work installations, measuring and control devices, computer equipment, furniture, as well as cars or vehicles for transporting goods and passengers.

2026 budget: 9,450,000 lei planned for this measure.

A simple calculation puts the budget in context: 9,450,000 lei divided by the 309,000-lei ceiling means about 30 grants at the maximum amount. Places are limited, and the exact number depends on the targets set each year by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

Not just money: advice matters

"The support given to unemployed people who want to open a business includes consultancy and assistance in understanding entrepreneurial activity. But the most important remains the financial support," explained Andriana Bruma.

Before asking for money, jobseekers can take vocational training courses or, if they already have experience in a field, have their skills certified. The idea is for the future entrepreneur to understand the risks, not just the perks of being the boss. ANOFM has 35 territorial offices, where specialists explain eligibility and the steps to follow.

A concrete example comes from Fălești, a town in northern Moldova. Elena Cataranciuc and her husband opened a car detailing business, a service that did not exist locally. "We had full support from the Employment Directorate, who guided us and helped us put the project together correctly. As a result, we opened our business," she told Radio Moldova.

Her story shows where the programme's real value lies: a good idea, an unserved local niche, and someone who helps you turn that idea into a project that passes evaluation.

For employees and candidates: is it worth trying?

If you have been unemployed for a few months and have a trade you know well, the grant can be a real alternative to looking for a job. Before you apply, answer a few questions honestly:

Is there demand for your service locally? The Fălești case worked partly because there was no direct competition.

Can you cover the remaining 20%? The grant funds at most 80% of costs; the difference comes out of your own pocket.

Are your skills certified? If not, ANOFM courses are a useful first step, and a solid project stands a better chance with the evaluators.

Are you ready to be both employee and owner? The business must create at least your own job, with all the obligations that come with it.

If your answers suggest entrepreneurship isn't for you right now, that is not a defeat. A stable job with the right employer is an equally good decision.

For employers and HR: what it means for the market

For companies, the programme has two consequences. First: small firms are appearing in the regions, set up by people who would otherwise have been available candidates. In local markets where workers are already hard to find, every new entrepreneur means one fewer candidate, but also a potential supplier or partner.

Second: the 89% retention rate is a useful benchmark for anyone assessing employment support programmes. The combination of money, training and guidance seems to produce lasting jobs, not just good-looking reports. Companies working with ANOFM on other subsidy measures can apply the same logic: financial support works better when paired with preparation and follow-up after hiring.

And for HR teams dealing with staff turnover, the lesson is simple: people stay where they received not just an offer, but guidance in their first months.

Conclusion: a small door, but one that stays open

ANOFM's programme will not transform the labour market in the Republic of Moldova on its own; at roughly 30 maximum grants a year, its impact remains limited. But the fact that 115 of 124 jobs have survived shows that, for anyone with a concrete idea and a trade, the path from unemployment to your own business is realistic. The first step is a visit to the ANOFM office in your district.