Employers' applications for non-EU workers exceed the quota of around 90,000 set for 2026, despite tightening hiring procedures, amid an estimated shortage of several hundred thousand staff in key sectors of the economy, according to an analysis by a non-EU recruitment company.
"Despite the fact that the authorities have tightened the procedures for hiring workers from outside the European Union and have reduced the approved annual quota, the real demand in the economy for foreign labor continues to grow and the pressure on employers is increasing. The phenomenon is no longer a one-off phenomenon, but reflects a structural transformation of the Romanian labor market, where the shortage of staff is estimated by specialists at several hundred thousand employees, especially in sectors such as transportation, construction, services, manufacturing and domestic staff", say representatives of the recruitment company Work From Asia.
Thus, although the official quota for 2026 was set at around 90,000 newly-admitted workers, industry data shows that employers' requests far exceed this limit, with some years in which applications were more than twice the approved number, the source said.
At the same time, recent statistics show tens of thousands of job vacancies in occupations essential to the functioning of the economy, such as professional drivers, construction workers, commercial workers, commercial workers, cargo handlers or service workers.
"There are areas where automation cannot completely replace the human factor, at least in the next decade," the recruitment company says.
According to the source, the trend is also confirmed by international recruitment agencies.
"Even with more complicated procedures, demand continues to grow. Currently, in our agency alone, we are seeing an increase of around 20% in applications for foreign staff compared to last year, and this is just one example that reflects the overall dynamics in the market," Yosef Gavriel Peisakh, general manager of Work From Asia, was quoted as saying in the statement.
The specialist stresses that the problem is no longer just about access to workers, but about the ability of companies to attract and, more importantly, retain them.
"Romania has entered a global competition for labor. Workers are choosing between several destinations, and their decision depends on salaries, working conditions, accommodation, actual starting time once selected and contractual stability. Countries like Spain have long understood that retention means investing in people. If we don't raise standards, we risk losing this competition," emphasized Yosef Gavriel Peisakh.
According to industry representatives, one of the key solutions to stabilize the market is to make employers more accountable and align with international ethical standards in recruitment.
More careful screening of companies bringing in workers, clear contractual obligations and compliance with the "employer pays recruitment" principle are seen as critical to reducing abuse and increasing retention.
At the same time, higher wages, compliance with the labor code, cultural integration and better housing conditions become decisive factors in a market where workers have real alternatives.
"It is no longer enough to bring people into the country. You have to create conditions where they want to stay. The companies that understand this will have a competitive advantage, while the others will continue to face staff shortages," added Yosef Gavriel Peisakh.
Against the backdrop of a shrinking labor force and continued external migration, experts expect the Romanian economy's dependence on non-EU workers to increase in the coming years, regardless of short-term legislative developments.
In this context, the import of labor is no longer seen as a temporary solution, but as a structural component of national economic development, the source said.
