Quality of Human Capital: a Critical Challenge for the Business Environment in the Republic of Moldova

High quality human capital is a fundamental determinant of economic performance and business competitiveness. The article investigates the challenges related to the quality of human capital in the Republic of Moldova, identifying vulnerabilities and evolving trends. The analysis is based on official statistical data and international rankings on indicators characterizing human capital, as well as on primary data collected through surveys on entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the availability and quality of labor force. The results of the research reveal significant gaps in basic skills, a decline in the attractiveness of higher education and a decreasing share of science and engineering graduates. Systemic deficiencies in the education system and mismatches with labor market requirements create a shortage of skilled labor, affecting competitiveness and innovation potential. The perceptions of entrepreneurs confirm the major difficulties in accessing qualified specialists and graduates with business-relevant skills. The contribution of this paper lies in complementing statistical evidence with original survey data, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of how human capital challenges affect the entrepreneurial sector.