In Romania, the survey was conducted by Undelucram.ro, between March 30 and April 30, 2026, and gathered 5,173 responses from professionals across Romania, covering all major industries (banking/insurance/pensions, IT, retail, industrial manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, etc.), experience levels, and age groups.
“The data from Romania tells a story of slow-burning pressure. Half of employees are dissatisfied, more than half are open to leaving, and the conversation about artificial intelligence is happening everywhere, except in formal HR communications. Employers who acknowledge what their teams already know—that the nature of work has changed—will retain the talent that will define the next decade,” says Costin Tudor, CEO of wherewework Group.
More than half of Romanians say they are underpaid
Half of Romanian respondents (52%) expressed dissatisfaction with their current salary: 19.2% are very dissatisfied, and 32.8% are somewhat dissatisfied. Only 20.6% report a level of satisfaction, while 27.3% fall into the neutral middle range.
Perceptions regarding fair pay are equally revealing: 46.5% say they are not fairly compensated for their work (19.9% not at all, 26.6% to a small extent), and 55.7% believe their salary is below market rates compared to colleagues with similar experience. 12.7% responded that they do not know how they compare to the market, a sign of salary opacity.
Purchasing power is declining, and financial pressure is being felt more and more acutely
43.3% of Romanian employees report weaker purchasing power compared to 12 months ago, the lowest percentage among the five countries. Among those who report a decline, far more describe it as “much weaker” (30.8%) than “slightly weaker” (12.5%).
The gap between wages and the cost of living is the main source of financial pressure: 44.8% identify it as the primary stressor, followed by a significant increase in daily expenses (22.5%). 8.8% of Romanian respondents cite debt and mortgage payments as their main financial pressure, a higher percentage than in any other country in the survey. Open-ended responses often link this issue to the 2022 Prima Casă program, whose mortgage rates have risen sharply.
The data highlights the financial pressure felt by a large portion of participants: 34.8% of participants say their salary covers only basic expenses or does not cover them at all, while 43.5% manage to maintain a decent standard of living, but must watch their spending closely. Only 5.0% report a high level of financial comfort.
The picture of the necessary salary increase is consistent: 34.8% need an increase of 11–20% to feel fairly compensated, 24.2% need 21–30%, and 20.7% need over 30%.
Perceptions of artificial intelligence: the most fragmented in the region
Romania lacks a dominant narrative regarding artificial intelligence. 21.8% of Romanian respondents view AI as a productivity tool, 33.4% expect it to restructure their tasks (16.3% changes in responsibilities, 17.1% reduction in activities), 17.5% perceive it as a vulnerability, and 19.3% do not anticipate any significant impact. Another 8.0% are still unsure.
Open-ended responses round out this picture and highlight the initial commercial effects of AI adoption on the labor market. Freelancers and agency professionals are among the most affected, with several respondents noting that some clients who previously used design, copywriting, and content creation services have migrated to generative AI tools.
57% are considering a job change, and 64% would do so for a higher salary
The figures on job mobility indicate a high level of openness to change: 25.2% of Romanian respondents are actively looking for a new job, and another 31.7% would make a change for an attractive opportunity. In total, 57% are open to a change in the next six months. Only 19.1% are firmly committed to staying in their current job, though Romania remains the most stable of the five countries in the survey.
The main factor influencing the decision to change jobs is salary: 64% cite a higher salary as the main reason they would accept a new job offer. Far behind is the need for professional stability (11.3%), followed by career development opportunities (7.1%), flexible hours (6.6%), and a better work environment (6.6%).
Job insecurity remains high among employees
Concerns about layoffs are widespread but manageable: 54.5% of Romanian respondents express some level of anxiety (33.4% moderate, 12.7% strong, 8.4% extremely concerned). Job security is mixed. 36.1% feel uncertain about their role over the next 12 months, and only 9.36% say they feel “very secure.”