The number of foreign workers in Romania has significantly increased, with Moroccans among the top ten.
During the first eight months of this year, Romania has experienced a noticeable influx of foreign workers from outside the European Union, aiming to address the growing gaps in various vital sectors. According to official data from the General Directorate of Migration, Romania has welcomed over 65,000 foreign workers since the beginning of the year.
This trend reflects a clear shift in the structure of the Romanian labor market, which is becoming increasingly reliant on foreign labor, particularly amid a decline in the local population and the emigration of many Romanians to Western Europe. Sectors such as construction, services, and light industry are witnessing high demand for labor, prompting authorities to expedite the issuance of work permits.
In this context, the Moroccan presence is notable, with more than 2,700 Moroccan workers joining the Romanian labor market since the start of the year, placing Morocco seventh among the countries exporting workers to Romania. This ranking indicates a growing international competition for exporting skills to promising job markets.
Leading the list of labor-exporting countries to Romania is Nepal, with over 25,000 workers, followed by Sri Lanka with 8,240 workers, then India, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Pakistan. Turkey has also recorded approximately 2,400 workers, surpassing countries like Ethiopia and Turkmenistan, reflecting the significant diversity in the nationalities and backgrounds of the foreign workforce present in the country.
Statistics show that the number of legally registered foreign workers from outside the European Union in Romania exceeded 140,000 by the end of last year, and this figure is likely to rise as work permits continue to be issued, totaling over 66,000 permits from the beginning of the year until mid-August.
This new dynamic in the Romanian labor market confirms the country’s shift toward becoming more open to foreign labor as a necessary solution to address demographic challenges and meet rising demand in strategic economic sectors.
