Working in Romania
A roundup of news on the Romanian labor market
Sorin Iordan, 18.11.2025, 14:00
The phenomenon of undeclared work continues to be a major problem in Romania. According to official estimates, approximately 22% of work performed in the private sector is undeclared, compared to the European Union average of 11%. Undeclared work is not only illegal, but it also affects employees’ rights, leads to decreased competitiveness in the labor market, and generates significant losses to the state budget. In this context, labor inspectors in Bistrița-Năsăud, in the northwest of the country, have conducted over 800 inspections this year in the field of labor relations and to verify the employment of foreign citizens. As a result, 40 people were discovered working without legal documentation, mostly in construction and HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, and catering). The companies in question were fined over 800,000 lei, an amount 46% higher compared to the same period last year.
The number of Romanians who want to go and work abroad has steadily declined in recent years, according to a study conducted by the online recruitment company e.Jobs. According to the research, 2025 marks the weakest interest in job opportunities in Great Britain, while countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, France, and Bulgaria are at the top of the rankings. The uncertain economic context causes Romanians to think much more carefully before leaving to work beyond borders, the study further highlights. The e.Jobs analysis also reveals that job opportunities abroad are primarily addressing people with minimal experience in the field, even unskilled workers, but there are also jobs for specialists with higher education.
Aptiv, the largest employer in the city of Ineu (western Romania) has notified the Arad County Employment Agency that, starting December, it will cease operations and lay off approximately 900 employees. The institution’s director, Alexandru Molnar, announced the organization of job fairs and professional retraining courses for affected employees. The city’s mayor, Călin Abrudan, confirmed that the factory is relocating its production outside the European Union and said that he is discussing with potential new investors, one of whom is expected to create about 500 jobs. Since the start of the year, approximately 2,000 people from Arad have been affected by collective layoffs.
The unemployment rate in Gorj county, in southwestern Romania, slightly increased at the end of October compared to September, the director of the County Employment Agency, Romeo Chiriac, has said. According to him, the number of people in the county looking for a job is 4,672, while the unemployment rate stood at 3.91%. The increase is due to individual layoffs, as a result of processing in the computer application the remaining files from collective layoffs at the cable factory in Târgu Jiu, where a total of 415 employees were collectively laid off. Chiriac also said that, for the population aged 18-62, in urban areas the share of unemployed is 1.39%, meaning almost 1,500 people without jobs out of approximately 107,000 inhabitants, while in rural areas, the share is 2.85%, with approximately 3,200 unemployed out of over 111,000 inhabitants.
Over 32,000 jobs are available in Romania, most of them aimed at people with primary or middle school education, announces the National Employment Agency. The most sought after are drivers, couriers, commercial workers, unskilled workers from various branches of the economy and security agents. The offer also includes over 2,000 jobs for people with higher education. Companies in Romania are looking to recruit engineers in various fields, counselors, inspectors and economists. (VP)
