Hays Romania: New year, growing challenges for employers: competitiveness reaches peak complexity

”Secure what cannot wait and postpone what can.” This seems to be the motto for most Romanian companies this year, following a turbulent 2024 characterized by several layers of market uncertainty. Businesses will put a sharp focus on stronger financial performance, profitability and, according to Hays Romania’s latest labour market study, this does not come as a surprise.

While financial concerns remain significant overall, staffing issues are still burning more than a third of Romanian companies. Their key strategic focus areas mostly match the prior year, but there has been a significant shift in some areas. Prioritizing operating profit as a primary goal grew almost 20% compared to 2024, now 61% of companies putting it on top of their priorities. This is followed closely by gaining market share and boosting turnover, which accurately reflects the current economic climate and forcing initiatives as sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility to take the backseat in 2025.

PERMANENT STAFF GROWTH SHOWS A SLIGHT DECLINE

Another insight supports that businesses are prioritizing stability over expansion and aiming to maintain their market position rather than to assertively grow.

Cristina Iacob, Executive Director of Hays Romania explained: “We do observe the “stability over growth” trend on the market currently. 82% of companies plan to hire in permanent staff which is a slight but noticeable 5% decline compared to last year. However, presumably due to the skill shortage, almost a third of employers have difficulties filling these roles with suitable permanent candidates, which is a major reason for considering adaptable alternative solutions such as contracting.”

PRIORITIES LIE IN RETAINING, ADAPTING AND STRUCTURING

While recruitment is still of importance for 32% of businesses, their focus seems to shift towards stability. Almost half (49%) of companies are doubling down on their retention efforts – a similarity looking at the previous year. This might be the peak time for companies to embrace a much-needed flexibility and to further adapt to employees’ evolving needs. Thinking of realigning teams, optimizing roles, processes or even to rethink their HR strategies will be necessary to maintain their competitiveness. Notably, adapting organizational structures (46%) has become nearly as important as retention itself (49%) in HR strategies for 2025.

COMPENSATION AND FLEXIBILITY FOR COMPETITIVENESS

Pay raise expectations for 2025 seem to be rather aligned between employers and employees, but not entirely. Although 42% is predicting a modest salary increase of less than 10%, employees seem a bit more optimistic: 25% of them expecting raises between 10-20%, and a tenth even hoping for over 20%. That said, employees look forward to higher increases than businesses are planning to offer, which points out a gap in expectations. Another divergence is the working model: as the study shows, employees are prioritizing their work-life balance, craving flexibility and a healthy work environment, while businesses are leaning toward increased in-office time compared to last year. However, showing flexibility on in-office hours can give a serious competitive advantage for employers, as the pronounced need of flexibility is visible in the benefits data as well. Extra vacation days (53%) and flexible working (45%) are steady preferences, further proving the point of well-being and work-life balance being on top of the employee mind.

In essence, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of cautious decision-making for Romanian companies. They are expected to concentrate resources on maximizing profitability and simultaneously striving for a resilient, future-proof workforce in a cost minimizing economic climate. The challenge to successfully navigate the skill shortage and to attract, retain top talent, whilst meeting the pressuring needs of employees, will add further complexity to remain a competitive player on the Romanian labour market.
Hays Romania’s recently published Salary Guide 2025, the labor market study can be downloaded here.

INFORMATION ABOUT HAYS ROMANIA

Hays Romania is part of Hays plc, the world’s largest specialized recruitment agency. Today, with over 50 years of recruitment experience, the Group operates 236 offices in 33 countries.

Hays Romania started its operations in 2015 in Bucharest and since then has grown to become one of the leading specialized permanent recruitment companies in Romania. We passionately support our goal of boosting the world of work by placing and professionally developing skilled workers working in different market sectors.