The Labor Situation in Romania
The Romanian Government has amended the Law on the Unemployment Insurance System
Călin Coțoiu and Sorin Iordan, 11.03.2026, 19:36
The Romanian Government has amended the Law on the Unemployment Insurance System and introduces a bonus for young people who do not work, do not study and are employed for the first time for an indefinite period. The main changes aim at introducing a stability bonus, worth 27,000 lei (about 5,300 euros), granted to this category over 24 months, non-taxable and conditional on maintaining the job. Thus, 1,000 lei (almost 200 euros) per month will be received in the first 12 months and 1,250 lei (approximately 245 euros) per month in the following 12. The Ministry of Labor specifies that this type of support is in addition to the fixed monthly amount of 2,250 lei (about 440 euros) that employers receive for each person employed in certain vulnerable categories. The institution reported that the new provisions adapt employment policies to the current realities of the labor market and respond to concrete challenges, such as long-term unemployment, the difficulties of integrating young people who do not work or do not attend classes, the lack of labor in certain areas, and the need for support for people in vulnerable situations. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in Romania the youth unemployment rate was, in January 2026, 28.2%, while this indicator was 15.1% in the European Union and 14.8% in the Eurozone.
The labor market in Romania is going through a paradigm shift. According to an opinion poll, if for 8 out of 10 employees the salary is the decisive criterion when looking for a job, the reason why they choose to remain loyal to a company has changed. Thus, Romanians prefer the balance between professional and private life to the detriment of job security. The pressure of the cost of living is, however, being felt acutely, with almost half of Romanians admitting that they have or are already looking for a second job, a figure well above the global average. In parallel, the study reveals that dissatisfaction no longer automatically translates into resignations, and employees are less willing to risk aggressive negotiations. Another major trend is the rise of Artificial Intelligence. One in two Romanian employees now prefer to ask professional advice from AI, instead of turning to their own manager. However, although technology makes their work easier, 33% of employees in Romania fear that their job could disappear in the next 5 years. The survey also revealed a paradoxical situation: although most employers recognize the benefits of autonomy, 85% of them still refuse to allow subordinates to manage their own work schedule.
The Brăila County Emergency Inspectorate has a staff shortage of almost 35% and ranks 2nd in the national ranking of staff shortages, after the Tulcea ISU. The chief inspector of the Brăila ISU, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Movileanu, stated that in 2025, no competitions were organized to fill the vacant positions, but 13 non-commissioned officers and one officer were assigned from educational institutions. Movileanu specified that the staff shortage of the Brăila inspectorate is very large, and that, depending on the type of interventions required in emergency situations, it supplements the forces from neighboring counties, such as Galaţi, Tulcea, or Buzău. At the national level, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations is facing a significant staff shortage, which affects the capacity to intervene in thousands of daily missions, including fires and first aid. According to IGSU, this crisis is caused by the high number of retirements and the limitations imposed on hiring.
Employees in Botoşani County, who do not have an education, but who have accumulated experience in the field in which they work, can obtain qualification documents after several evaluation sessions. These are organized by the County Employment Agency, at the request of companies. The new service is intended for employers who have employees with less than 8th grade secondary education and do not hold qualification certificates, although they have experience in fields of activity such as textile manufacturing, welding, bricklaying, and painting. Botoşani County has over 4,000 officially registered unemployed people. About 66% of them either do not have any education or have less than 8th grade, and, therefore, are classified as difficult to employ.
