Investigating Labor Market Discrimination in Romania

Abstract

An inclusive labor market, with equal opportunities for all, is a desideratum of all states, and one of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations for the year 2030. Discrimination can take many forms, based on many reasons, and has a strong impact on the living standards of individuals. Discrimination in the labor market can negatively affect economic performances. The aim of the research is to investigate the perception of individuals regarding discrimination, with a focus on the characteristics of the individuals who feel discriminated in Romania in a work-related context. In order to capture the relevant aspects, we turned to descriptive analysis and logistic regression. The analysis revealed that around 14% of the respondents participating in the survey faced a discriminating situation in a work-related context during the last year. Moreover, less than half of these individuals have taken any action against the discrimination act, the others believing that nothing would have changed. The logistic regression results indicated that Roma people have 6.7 times higher chances to be discriminated in a work-related context as compared to a Romanian individual. Moreover, higher educated individuals are more likely to experience discrimination in the labor market.