Over the past four years, Romania has opened its labor market to 350,000 workers from non-EU countries. However, as of the end of 2024, only 150,000 of them remain in the country, according to official records.
Each year, Romania grants work permits to around 100,000 foreign workers in an effort to address its labor market shortages, yet many do not stay long-term. According to a report by Digi24 TV, cited by BTA, a significant portion of these workers use Romania as a temporary stopover rather than a permanent destination.
In 2025, the country plans to issue another 100,000 work permits to foreign nationals as part of its ongoing efforts to combat workforce challenges. This mirrors the figures from last year, but of the 100,000 workers hired in 2024, approximately 65,000 have already left.
Ana Calugaru, a representative of a recruitment platform, explained to Digi24 that many Asian workers view Romania as a transit hub on their journey to more developed Western European countries. She also highlighted that poor integration into the Romanian labor market is another contributing factor to the high turnover rate.
The foreign workers who do remain in Romania are primarily employed in the hospitality and delivery sectors, Digi24 noted.
Illustrative photo by Longxiang Qian: source
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