RESEARCH ON LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN ROMANIA'S AGRICULTURE

The aim of the paper was to analyze Romania's labour productivity in agriculture, forestry and fishery based on the empirical data collected from the National Institute of Statistics for the period 2007-2012. A number of five methods of labour productivity calculation and the chain substitution method to analyze the influence of various factors were used, and finally the trends and solutions to increase labour productivity were identified. For all the productivity indicators there were calculated the statistical parameters: average, standard deviation, variance, standard error and variation coefficient. In the period 2007-2012, the average labour productivity in Romania's agriculture, forestry and fishery accounted for 7.7 persons per one person employed in this field of activity, Lei 23,482.83 agricultural production value per employed person in agriculture, Lei 11,456 gross value added per employed person in agriculture, Lei 11,198 per employed person and Lei 6.42 per hour worked in agriculture as found by NIS. The variation of these indicators was 16 % across the whole analyzed period. Labour productivity in Romania's agriculture is lower than in other sectors of the economy and mainly regarding the EU average and the top productivity in the Netherlands, Denmark, France, United Kingdom and Germany. In the period 2007-2012, Romania registered Euro 4,329/AWU representing 28.92 % of Euro 14,967/AWU average labour productivity in the EU-27. To increase labour productivity, it is needed to assure a modern technical endowment, the knowledge transfer to farmers, the increase of their training level and managerial skills, the intensification of the extension system services, the stimulation of young farmers and women to develop business in agriculture and traditional activities and services, the assurance of funding for investments and modernization, the creation of jobs and new income sources for the agricultural employees and rural population. Only in this way, profitableness and competitiveness could be grown in agriculture.