Requests from Romanian employers for workers from outside the European Union have already exceeded the quota of about 90,000 people set by the state for 2026. All this is happening against the backdrop of an estimated shortage of hundreds of thousands of employees in key sectors of the economy.
An analysis by a non-EU recruitment company cited by The truth is, the pressure on employers is growing, even as authorities have tightened hiring procedures.
A structural transformation of the labor market
Representatives of the recruitment company Work From Asia underline the scale of the phenomenon. "Despite the fact that the authorities have tightened the procedures for hiring workers from outside the European Union and reduced the approved annual quota, the real demand in the economy for foreign labor continues to grow and the pressure on employers is increasing. This is no longer a one-off phenomenon but reflects a structural transformation of the labor market in Romania, where the shortage of personnel is estimated by specialists at several hundred thousand employees, especially in sectors such as transportation, construction, services, manufacturing and domestic staff," they say, according to Agerpres.
Industry data shows that although the official quota for 2026 is around 90,000 newly-admitted workers, applications are far exceeding this limit. There have been years when applications were even more than twice the approved number.
Demand grows by 201TPTP3T despite complicated procedures
Recent statistics show tens of thousands of vacancies in key occupations such as professional drivers, construction workers, commercial workers or cargo handlers. "These are areas where automation cannot completely replace the human factor, at least in the next decade," the recruitment company says.
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 general dynamics in the market," explained Yosef Gavriel Peisakh, general manager of Work From Asia.
Romania in global competition for labor
The specialist points out that the problem is not just getting workers in, but also keeping them for the long term. Romania is now in direct competition with other countries to attract staff.
"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.
What employers need to do to retain workers
According to industry representatives, one of the key solutions is to make employers more accountable and in line with international ethical standards in recruitment. Closer screening of companies bringing in workers and clear contractual obligations are seen as critical to reducing abuses.
Compliance with the "employer pays for recruitment" principle, higher wages, compliance with the labor code, cultural integration and improved housing conditions are becoming decisive factors. "It is no longer enough to bring people to 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 external migration, experts expect the Romanian economy's dependence on non-EU workers to increase in the coming years. Importing labor is no longer seen as a temporary solution, but as a structural component of national economic development.
