How young people see Chisinau: Opportunities, challenges and aspirations in a changing city

A study on the needs and priorities of young people in Chisinau Municipality analyzed including their self-perception, problem area, personal development possibilities, health knowledge, labor market integration and involvement in decision-making.

The survey was carried out on a sample of 2050 young people aged 14-35 years, living in 5 sectors of the Chisinau Municipality as well as in suburbs.

The method of data collection was mixed, using both online and offline techniques to ensure a broad coverage and diversity of respondents. Thus, two main methods were used: CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing), an online data collection method, and CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing), computer-assisted personal interviews, where the interviewer uses devices such as tablets or cell phones to record responses directly during the interview.

According to the results, 60.7% of the respondents are pupils or students, and another 39.3% are private or state employees, entrepreneurs or not employed.

Sources of information on youth services

The survey assesses sources of information for young people over a recent period. It gives an overview of the most used online platforms. Specifically, 23% of respondents rate Instagram as the main source of information. After that, follows TikTok – 17.8%, Telegram – 12%, Facebook – 11.7%, and another 35% include websites, radio, state institutions, newspapers, acquaintances and others.

Activities that should be organized by youth organizations or institutions

According to the collected data, 32.7% of the respondents mentioned vocational trainings, leisure activities and career guidance sessions as the most relevant activities that should be organized by youth institutions.

Another 27.8% foresee the organization of leadership courses, language courses, health education, internships and others.

Areas that need improvement to better support students

44.66% of young people say that access to scholarships, financial aid, study spaces, educational resources are areas, which would need improvement to better support students.

Another 40.95% indicate areas, such as extracurricular activities, transportation, infrastructure, mental health and support services.

Degree of involvement of young people in local decision-making

According to the results, 32.4% of young people report an increased interest in participating in elections, expressing a desire to directly influence the political and administrative directions of their community.

At the same time, 18.3% of respondents say that they are interested in participating in activities organized by youth centres and cultural institutions, which they perceive as places of expression and training.

Activities organized by the Local Public Administration in which young people have participated

The survey shows that, despite a moderate interest in the activities carried out by the authorities, a significant proportion of young people have already participated in at least one action initiated by the Local Public Administration.

More specifically, 28.3% of respondents said that they had participated in cultural events such as festivals, fairs or concerts. These activities are perceived as accessible and attractive, offering both entertainment and socializing opportunities.

At the same time, 4.7% of young people mention that they have been involved in environmental activities or community campaigns initiated by authorities. These initiatives, although less visible, respond to a real need for empowerment and active involvement in the life of the capital.

Voluntary activities in which young people have taken part in the last 12 months

According to the results, 11.9% of respondents have volunteered in a public institution, contributing to the smooth running of local activities and gaining experience in interacting with the administration.

At the same time, 10.2% of young people have been involved in local development projects, supporting civic, cultural or educational initiatives aimed at improving life in the community.

Also, 9.9% of the participants were active in charitable campaigns, either by collecting donations or supporting vulnerable people, demonstrating empathy and social responsibility.

Volunteer card

The survey examines the prevalence and young people’s perceptions of the volunteer card, a document designed to formally recognize civic involvement and voluntary activity. The results indicate limited use but considerable appreciation among those who hold it.

More specifically, only 15.7% of respondents say that they have a volunteer card, which reveals a need to promote this tool more intensively among young people involved in community activities.

At the same time, 27.4% of participants consider the volunteer card as “very useful”, emphasizing its role in validating non-formal experiences, facilitating access to educational and professional opportunities, as well as in strengthening personal portfolios.

Perception of young people on the difficulty to find a job in Chisinau

The survey explores the perception of young people in the capital on the difficulty to access a job, providing a clear picture of the reality they face on the labor market.

Only 5.1% of the respondents consider it “very easy” to find a job in the capital, which suggests a big gap between their expectations and the reality of the labor market.

17.1% of young people say that finding a job is “fairly easy”, which indicates a certain flexibility in the system. On the other hand, 37.8% of respondents consider the process “neither easy nor difficult”. On the other hand, 26.6% of young people find it “quite difficult” to find a job and 8.1% say it is “very difficult”.

Methods used by young people to find a job

The survey examined the methods by which young people in Chisinau search for a job, highlighting the various strategies used to access professional opportunities. According to the results, the most frequently used methods are related to social connections and direct interaction with employers.

71.6% of young people resort to friends, relatives and colleagues to find jobs, which emphasizes the importance of personal connections in the employment process.

Next, 61.4% of respondents use direct connections with hiring managers. These methods can include sending resumes directly or contacting employers.

In addition, 35.9% of young people choose to advertise job vacancies to draw attention to their availability to work.

And 27.1% of respondents register with labor offices, suggesting a moderate use of available public resources, but still an important option for a part of Chisinau’s youth.

Young people’s intentions to start a business in the next 2 years

The survey assessed young people’s intentions to become entrepreneurs in the next two years, providing a clear picture of the desire to start their own business and the reasons behind this decision.

24.3% of respondents said they were likely to start a business, suggesting a moderate interest in entrepreneurship.

At the same time, 12.4% are certain that they will start a business during this period, indicating a clear determination among a proportion of young people.

In terms of why young people want to become entrepreneurs, the results are significant.

35.6% of respondents want to become professionally independent, emphasizing the desire to control their own decisions.

At the same time, 32.6% of young people are motivated by the possibility of earning more money, reflecting an interest in improving financial stability.

Level of discrimination and inclusion (health status) The survey assessed young people’s perceptions of the level of discrimination and inclusion, particularly in the context of health status. The results provide a general picture of young people’s well-being, as well as their perception of discrimination.

24% consider their health status to be very good, and 47.3% rate it as quite good, suggesting a general state of well-being among respondents.

At the same time, 20.9% believe that their health is neither good nor bad, indicating a more neutral perception of this aspect.

Regarding discrimination, the majority of young people consider that this does not represent a significant problem.

69.9% of respondents state that there is no discrimination, which denotes a low degree of perception of discrimination in society.

Also, 10.3% assess discrimination at a low level, which suggests a minority that may experience mild forms of discrimination.

Based on the data obtained, the implementation of public policies in the field by young people follows, with the help of Local Public Authorities.

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Conducted annually, the Municipal Youth Survey of Chisinau facilitates a deep understanding of the realities faced by young people in the capital, serving as a basis for constantly assessing the perspectives, needs and level of involvement of young people in community life.

The ideas proposed within the Municipal Forum will be outlined in the municipality’s activity plans in 2026.

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The detailed results of the survey can be viewed below: