Hiring the right people for the right jobs is one of the most important things a company can do. In Romania, many businesses—from factories and hospitals to tech companies and hotels—depend on finding good workers to grow and succeed. But hiring isn’t always easy. There are several challenges companies face when it comes to staffing and human resources (HR). In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 5 HR staffing challenges in Romania and offer simple, effective solutions to overcome them.
Whether you’re a business owner, an HR manager, or just curious about how hiring works in Romania, this guide will help you understand what’s going on and how to fix common problems—explained in a clear, professional, and friendly tone.
1. Shortage of Skilled Workers
The Challenge:
One of the biggest problems Romanian employers face is the lack of skilled workers. This means there aren’t enough people with the right training or experience to do certain jobs—especially in fields like IT, healthcare, engineering, and construction.
Many skilled professionals have moved abroad for better pay and work conditions, leaving a talent gap in Romania. As a result, companies struggle to find qualified people for important roles.
How to Address It:
- Invest in Training: Companies can create training programs to help current employees learn new skills or improve existing ones. This helps build talent from within.
- Work with Local Schools and Universities: Partnering with educational institutions allows companies to connect with students early and offer internships or apprenticeships.
- Hire from Abroad: If the local talent pool is too small, Romanian companies can look outside the country for skilled workers—especially from non-EU countries, with proper legal arrangements.
- Offer Competitive Salaries: Paying fair wages and offering good benefits can keep talent from leaving the country and attract others to stay.
2. High Employee Turnover
The Challenge:
Another major issue is employee turnover—when workers keep leaving their jobs. In some industries in Romania, like hospitality or call centers, people switch jobs often. This leads to a constant need for hiring and training new employees, which costs time and money.
High turnover usually happens when workers don’t feel valued, don’t see chances to grow, or find better opportunities elsewhere.
How to Address It:
- Improve Work Culture: Creating a positive, respectful, and motivating work environment encourages people to stay longer.
- Provide Growth Opportunities: When employees see a future in the company—through promotions, skill-building, and recognition—they are more likely to stay.
- Listen to Employees: Regular feedback, surveys, and open communication help companies understand what workers need and what’s bothering them.
- Flexible Work Options: Allowing flexible hours or remote work can boost job satisfaction, especially in modern industries like tech or marketing.
3. Lengthy and Complicated Hiring Processes
The Challenge:
Many companies in Romania still have long and complicated hiring processes—too many interviews, lots of paperwork, and slow decisions. This can cause good candidates to lose interest or accept offers from faster-moving competitors.
In a fast-changing job market, speed matters. Talented people won’t wait forever, and slow hiring leads to missed opportunities.
How to Address It:
- Streamline the Process: Simplify application steps, reduce the number of interviews, and cut unnecessary delays.
- Use Recruitment Technology: HR software can help with screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking candidates quickly and efficiently.
- Work with Staffing Agencies: Trusted recruitment agencies in Romania can help find suitable candidates faster and handle much of the process.
- Be Transparent: Clear job descriptions, salary information, and timelines help candidates trust your process and stay engaged.
4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
The Challenge:
Romania has labor laws and rules that companies must follow when hiring and managing employees. These include things like work contracts, taxes, benefits, and working hours. Keeping up with changing regulations can be tough, especially for small businesses or foreign companies operating in Romania.
Making mistakes can lead to fines or legal problems, so HR teams must be careful and informed.
How to Address It:
- Stay Updated: Regularly review changes in Romanian labor laws and attend HR workshops or legal seminars.
- Hire Legal Experts or Consultants: Having a legal advisor or HR consultant ensures your company stays compliant and avoids risks.
- Use Payroll and HR Services: Outsourcing payroll and HR administration to professional agencies in Romania can help manage contracts, taxes, and benefits correctly.
- Create Clear Policies: Having written HR policies and employee handbooks ensures everyone understands their rights and responsibilities.
5. Finding the Right Cultural Fit
The Challenge:
It’s not just about skills. Hiring someone who fits into the company’s culture—how people work together, communicate, and share values—is also important. In Romania, many businesses struggle to find employees who match their company style and vision.
A poor cultural fit can lead to miscommunication, conflicts, and early resignations—even if the person is technically qualified.
How to Address It:
- Define Your Company Culture: Be clear about what your business stands for—your values, work style, and expectations.
- Ask the Right Interview Questions: Go beyond skills and ask questions about teamwork, communication, and attitude.
- Offer Trial Periods: Short-term contracts or probation periods help assess if the new hire is a good match.
- Encourage Inclusion and Diversity: Embracing different backgrounds and viewpoints can enrich the workplace and improve employee satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
Romania is full of opportunities, but staffing the right team comes with challenges. From a shortage of skilled workers to legal complexities and cultural mismatches, these issues can slow down business growth. The good news? Every problem has a solution.
By investing in employee development, improving hiring processes, offering better work environments, and seeking expert help when needed, companies in Romania can build strong, loyal, and productive teams.
HR isn’t just about hiring people—it’s about finding the right people, keeping them happy, and helping them grow. And when that happens, businesses grow too.
Need Help with HR Staffing in Romania?
If your business is struggling with any of these challenges, working with a trusted recruitment or HR staffing agency in Romania can save you time, money, and stress. Professional agencies have the tools, talent pools, and local knowledge to help you find the perfect candidates and stay compliant with Romanian laws.
Whether you’re hiring for a factory, a hospital, a tech startup, or a hotel, smart staffing makes all the difference.
