According to forecasts from ANOFM (The National Agency for Employment), the labor shortage is expected to reach over 150,000 unfilled positions in key sectors such as construction, agriculture, IT, and industry by 2026.
In this context, the active population is declining, as over 30% of Romanians will be over the age of 60 by 2030, according to Eurostat. At the same time, the country is facing a youth exodus, as 45% of university graduates prefer working abroad.
But, Romania is also facing an increasing industrial demand and an influx of EU-funded projects. At the same time, investments of over EUR 50 billion in infrastructure and green energy will require thousands of skilled workers.
Thus, there is a rise in international mobility as workers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America are seeking opportunities within the EU. Also, hiring foreign workers can reduce labor costs by up to 40% compared to hiring locally, according to GlobalWorker.
A key challenge in hiring a non-EU worker in Romania is the work permit, as the process can take between 15 and 60 days, requiring complex documentation. Also, there is a language barrier, as only 35% of foreign workers speak Romanian.
The main countries for recruitment of foreign workers are Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka (welders, bricklayers, IT technicians), Egypt, Morocco (agricultural workers, machine operators), Colombia, and Cuba (hospitality, construction staff).
The Romanian Government has approved, for 2025, a quota of 100,000 foreign workers newly admitted to the local labor market. This decision was taken following the high number of applications for employment permits in the past year.
According to data provided by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), as of November 30, 2024, 99,268 employment permits for foreign workers have been issued, with 5,957 applications for employment permits pending. In 2023, were issued 101,254 employment permits, a small decrease from 108,882 such documents in 2022.
