Staffing shortages to persist in 2026

Cojocariu Eugen, 19.06.2026, 12:28

Staffing shortages continue to affect the Romanian labour market in 2026, especially in constructions, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, retail, and the hospitality industry, where companies are struggling to fill essential positions, according to a recruitment company’s analysis.

The Romanian labour market is experiencing an increasingly visible paradox: while some companies are undergoing restructuring and layoffs, others continue to face a growing shortage of staff for essential roles. The lack of workers remains a major challenge, with employee recruitment and retention becoming increasingly difficult. Recruiting workers from outside the European Union remains one of the main solutions to cover staffing needs, and the recent GEO 32/2026 significantly changes the way companies can manage this process. The problem with the labour market is no longer a general lack of candidates, but the lack of suitable candidates for the operational roles that effectively support the economy.

GEO 32/2026 brings new rules and more control to international recruitment, but reconfirms a reality of the labour market: Romania continues to depend on foreign labour, especially from countries such as India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, the aforementioned source says.

According to the company, the demand for foreign workers has increased three to four times in the last two years, amid the increasingly acute shortage of personnel in operational sectors. Most requests come from transportation, logistics, constructions, and manufacturing—areas where the lack of personnel continues to put pressure on the companies’ activities.

The main countries of origin for the recruited candidates are Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India, markets that have become important sources for Romanian companies. In terms of salaries, offers for operational roles start from 2,700-3,500 lei net (about 515-665 Euros) for unskilled workers and operators, reach 4,500-5,000 lei net (about 890-950 Euros) in constructions and manufacturing, and exceed 5,000-10,000 lei net (about 950-1,900 Euros) for professional drivers, depending on experience, daily allowance, and the specifics of the role. The Romanian state has approved a quota of 90,000 non-EU workers for 2026, due to the personnel shortage reported by companies in various fields.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the greatest personnel needs are concentrated in the operational area: couriers (over 26,000), cargo handlers (around 21,000), construction workers (around 18,000), commercial workers (over 16,000), van drivers (over 12,000), cook assistants (over 12,000), and freight transport drivers (over 11,000). In this context, GEO 32/2026 changes the way companies can manage the deficit: less improvisation, more planning, more responsibility, and more control over the entire process, the aforementioned source underlines.

One of the most important changes brought about by the new ordinance is that the recruitment of non-EU workers is directly linked to the existence of an official list of shortage occupations. This makes companies define their personnel needs more clearly and will make the real deficit and workforce needs more visible at the industry level. Companies will have to specifically justify their need for staff, company representatives explain.