Changes in the Economic Activities Structure of the Rural Settlements from the Space Adjacent to the Bucharest-Ploieşti Corridor and the Impact of These Changes on the Workforce Structure

Abstract

In administrative terms the analysed region is formed of 11 rural settlements located
at the crossroads between the areas of influence of the capital city and Ploieşti. The “explosive”
evolution of urbanization caused a new type of migration – from urban to rural areas. Due to a change
in the mind-set, an urban population segment has come to regard the rural environment as an attractive
place to live in and permanently settle in the rural area which is currently undergoing a modernisation
process by improvement of the living standards and public utility infrastructure. Development of the
transport infrastructure facilitated the access of commuters to suburban or periurban areas. The impact
of this demographic phenomenon on all socio-economic levels is obvious in its consequences, such as
the rise in the real estate prices and attraction of investors in various areas of activity. Thus, rural
settlements experienced a massive economic boom and consequently the economy of many settlements
began to rely on new activities, especially residential. Undertaking this study, the author noted that
agriculture is no longer an activity of interest for the inhabitants and in some cases it was abandoned for
good, fact which caused changes in the occupational structure. Jobs rarely encountered so far are in
demand, such as in the field of domestic household services (baby-sitters, gardeners, housekeepers).
The number of undertakings as well as the range of activities increased. Thus companies were set up,
specializing in soft landscaping, pool maintenance, security service companies or real estate and travel
agencies which seemed out of place 15 or 20 years ago. The workforce had to undergo occupational
retraining in order to meet the new requirements.