Despite the tightening of employment procedures for workers from outside the European Union (EU) and the reduction of the approved annual quota, the economy's demand for foreign labor continues to grow. Industry data and experts' estimates point to growing pressure on employers, in a context where the labor shortage in Romania is estimated at several hundred thousand employees.
The phenomenon is no longer cyclical but reflects a structural change in the labor market, especially in sectors such as transport, construction, services, manufacturing and domestic staffing.
For the year 2026, the authorities have set a quota of around 90,000 newly-admitted workers from outside the EU, but industry representatives say that employers' applications are significantly exceeding this ceiling, with some years more than double the approved number.
At the same time, recent statistics show tens of thousands of vacancies in occupations essential to the functioning of the economy. These include professional drivers, construction workers, commercial workers, freight handlers and service personnel. These are areas where automation cannot completely replace human labor in the short to medium term.
Recruitment agencies report surge in applications
The trend is also confirmed by international recruitment agencies. According to Yosef Gavriel Gavriel Peisakh, general manager of a company specializing in non-EU recruitment, the demand for foreign staff is on the rise.
He says that within his own agency, demand is about 20% higher than the previous year, which he believes reflects the general dynamics in the market, despite more complex procedures.
Industry representatives say the challenge is no longer just about access to workers, but the ability of companies to attract and retain them. Romania competes with other countries for the same workforce, and workers' decisions are influenced by wage levels, working conditions, accommodation, starting time and contractual stability.
According to Yosef Gavriel Peisakh, countries such as Spain have developed policies aimed at retaining workers by investing in the conditions offered to them. In this context, Romania's competitiveness depends on the standards applied in practice by employers.
Ethical standards and retention, factors for stabilization
Industry representatives believe that one of the solutions to stabilizing the market is to make employers more accountable and align with international ethical standards in recruitment. Measures include more rigorous screening of companies bringing in workers, clarifying contractual obligations and applying the principle that the employer bears the cost of recruitment.
In fact, higher wages, compliance with labor laws, cultural integration and better housing conditions are seen as important elements to increase retention in a market where workers have alternatives in other countries.
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 any short-term legislative adjustments.
