Romanian government said that it expected 29,000 people to lose their jobs by March 2009 because companies are cutting production as a result of the world economic crisis.

Mr Mariana Campeanu labor minister of Romania said that "The areas affected will be agriculture, construction and the minerals and tanning industries. There is a significant lack in the services."

It may be noted that Dacia, part of the Renault group, said that it would halt production between November 20th 2008 and December 7th 2008 due to falling sales. ArcelorMittal announced a 2 month production stoppage at its factory in Hunedoara, southeastern Romania, due to a drop in orders.

The food maker Kraft Foods Inc said that it would close a chocolate factory that employs 440 people in the central city of Brasov by the end of 2009 and would gradually shift production abroad, including to neighboring Bulgaria. It added that the move wasn't due to the worsening world economic crisis but rather to limited prospects for expansion in Brasov. It said it would compensate those laid off and help them find new work.

Romania's unemployment rate grew to 4% in October 2008 from 3.9% in September 2008.