ROMANIA'S PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 8 OF THE 2030 AGENDA. A STATISTICAL ASSESSMENT

Initially, sustainable development was regarded as a response to the ecological crisis caused by the intensive industrial exploitation of resources and ongoing environmental degradation, with an emphasis on preserving environmental quality. Over time, the concept has broadened to encompass the complex notion of quality of life, integrating social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions. At its core, sustainability recognizes the dependence of human activities on the environment and its resources. Key elements such as health, social security, and macroeconomic stability are considered vital for ensuring a high quality of life. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, titled Transforming our World, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2015, with the support of leaders from 193 countries. This framework updates the vision of sustainable development through 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 specific targets. Romania, as one of the signatories, has been implementing its National Sustainable Development Strategy (2018-2030) since 2018. This work adopts an exploratory perspective to examine the progress made in achieving SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth – on global, European, and national levels. To analyze Romania's progress toward SDG 8, we will employ descriptive statistical methods and principal components analysis. The data, spanning the years 2008-2023, are sourced from the National Institute of Statistics and Eurostat. The findings of this study aim to support the assessment and monitoring of Romania's achievements under SDG 8 and to inform strategies and public policies that promote decent work and economic growth.