Romania workforce declines as manufacturing and auto sectors shrink

Romania experienced a decline in the number of employees as of June 2026, with approximately 5.107 million people employed, representing a 1% decrease compared to the previous year. This national trend saw a reduction of about 64,000 workers, with Călărași being the only county to report an increase in employment.

Sector-specific data indicates that the manufacturing industry bore the brunt of the losses, accounting for nearly 44,000 fewer employees. Within this sector, the automotive industry saw a significant drop of approximately 13,000 workers.

In Mureș County, the number of employees fell by 1,847 compared to June 2025, leaving a total of 144,078 workers. As of late July 2026, the unemployment rate in Mureș was 2.86%, with 5,919 registered unemployed individuals. A significant portion of these individuals, 4,775, were not receiving unemployment benefits. Educational levels among the unemployed in Mureș showed that 47.47% had only primary education, while 25.87% had middle school education.