Employment rate in Romania
Romania: Employment rate was 48.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Romania, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Romania is 48.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Romania peaked at 50.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 44.0%, in 2009.
That places Romania 150th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 46.2% | — |
| 1992 | 46.5% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 46.6% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 46.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 46.3% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 46.9% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 47.8% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 48.0% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 47.8% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 47.5% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 47.6% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 46.6% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 47.2% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 46.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 46.9% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 46.9% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 47.5% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 48.0% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 44.0% | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 46.8% | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 46.3% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 46.6% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 46.5% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 47.1% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 47.7% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 47.9% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 49.3% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 49.7% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 50.0% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 49.4% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 49.5% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 49.7% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 48.8% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 48.7% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 48.3% | -0.9% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 48.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 82% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Romania's 48.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.6%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.0% | 46.2% | 48.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 46.9% | 44.0% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.8% | 46.3% | 50.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.1% | 48.3% | 49.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More work & labour data for Romania
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7486 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1264 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 10,932 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,465 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,408 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,360 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10,768 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Romania?
- Employment rate in Romania was 48.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 50.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.0% in 2009.
- How does Romania rank for employment rate?
- Romania ranks 150th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Romania data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.