Working in Romania – 06.08.2026
Starting July 1, the minimum gross basic wage in Romania increased by 52.5 euros, reaching almost 827 euros. This 6.8% increase takes the net value of the minimum wage to almost 516 euros.
Sorin Iordan, 06.08.2026, 11:41
Data released by the Ministry of Labor show that over 830,000 employees benefited from the guaranteed minimum gross basic wage in March 2026. According to the ministry, some 1,760,000 employees benefit from the minimum wage increase. For employers, the total estimated cost for an employee receiving the national minimum wage stands at 841 euros per month. Representatives of employers’ associations complain that the financial effort of increasing the minimum wage still falls on the shoulders of private companies. They warn that micro-enterprises and companies operating in sectors with low profit margins, such as textiles, trade or services, will be forced either to lay off workers or increase prices in order to survive. The National Trade Union Bloc also said the increase was implemented with a 6-month delay, which cause workers to lose over 13% of their purchasing power. To recover this difference, the National Trade Union Bloc estimates that the minimum gross wage should increase to approximately 956 euros, starting January 1, 2027.
Hourly labor costs increased by 3.6% in the European Union and by 3.2% in the Euro area in the first quarter of 2026, compared to the same period last year, according to data released by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office. Hourly labor costs include wage costs and non-wage costs, such as social contributions paid by employers. From January to March 2026, compared to the first quarter of 2025, the most significant annual increases were reported in Hungary (16.4%), Bulgaria (13.2%), and Croatia (9.2%), while Romania recorded a 3.8% rise. The lowest increases were recorded in Malta (1.3%) as well as in Denmark and Latvia (2.5% each). In the first quarter of 2026, the increase in Romania’s labor costs was mainly driven by a 5.8% increase in the hourly labor cost in the business sector. By economic sector, Romania’s hourly labor cost increased by 7.4% in construction, 5.2% in services, and 6.2% in industry.
The number of employees in Romania’s public institutions and authorities continued its downward trend, according to data released by the Finance Ministry. In April, nearly 1,275,000 positions were occupied in the public sector, over 5,300 fewer than at the beginning of the year and over 31,000 fewer compared to April 2025. Almost 64% of these positions are within the central public administration. The largest number of employees is reported at the Ministry of Education, followed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense. Additionally, 3,300 jobs have been slashed in local public administration since the start of the year. Meanwhile, Romania’s unemployment rate increased slightly in May to reach 6.4%, according to the National Institute for Statistics. The total number of unemployed people exceeded 522,000, marking an increase compared to both previous months and the same period last year. The most concerning situation remains among young people in the 15- to- 24 age bracket, where the unemployment rate hovers around 29%. (DV)
