Working in Bucharest

If you want to move to Romania, you need to know that Bucharest is an open city for cultural exchanges and a constant job market. The city also offers different opportunities for unemployed foreigners. While you might have no problem with finding a job here, it is always better to have a glimpse over the local economy.

Bucharest's economy 

Although the central part of the country is in full economic ascension, Bucharest is still Romania's most developed and economically advanced city. The main pillars of the city are industry, then service, construction, high tech, IT, real estate, trade, management, and many other domains. 

Bucharest is by far the wealthiest part of the country. With a population of 2 million, the city has the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per person in the country. For instance, according to Eurostat, the GDP was 39.400 euros per inhabitant, a value that is adjusted with the power purchasing standard. 

The city is home to the largest international and multinational companies in the country. These companies are also great employers for the citizens and the expats coming to the city. Some of them are Orange, Michelin, Carrefour, Oracle, Auchan, British Amerian Tobacco, and others. 

Concretely, Bucharest has the highest rate of available jobs, around 5,800. The capital is also a great centre for information, communication, high-tech, and industry. In fact, there are some local software development enterprises in the city to offer great jobs for expats. 

Finally, Bucharest is the house of the country's largest stock exchange, the Bucharest Stock Exchange. 

Promising fields of work for expats in Bucharest

When it comes to finding a job in Bucharest as an expat, you should not worry, as there is a high demand for human resources and expertise in Bucharest. The unemployment rate in the capital city is very low, around 1,30%, compared to the other regions of the country. 

For expats, working in Bucharest is a great option, as the majority of foreign companies are open to recruiting expatriates. You can find a good job in management, human resources, IT, real estate or tourism with a lot of ease. The average salary will be around 700 euros as a junior. 

Due to the presence of large companies, a good knowledge of English, German or French will be a major advantage. 

Job hunting in Bucharest

Most of the expat job seekers can apply for a job in Bucharest by only clicking some pages on the internet. Especially before coming to Romania, you can look at the specialised websites with job offers. You can also switch to English on these platforms, to see which are the requirements for each professional activity. 

On the other hand, expats can send their CV to the leading operating companies. It doesn't have to be all calculated, but spontaneous. As long as you feel you have the right profile, just contact the HR department of the companies with available jobs for foreigners and send your cover letter. 

You can also ask for a list of the Bucharest companies to the foreign Chambers of Commerce in Bucharest. Also, feel free to contact the Departmental Employment Agency for advice on the latest job vacancies. 

Wages in Bucharest 

Bucharest now has 1 million employees, and the medium income per person is 35 per cent higher than the country's medium. 

The average salary at the beginning of 2019 was around 800 euros, with 200 euros more than the average in the country. Comparing with the salary in 2017, the average has increased with 9,5 per cent. 

 Useful links:

Chambers of Commerce
Bucharest Departmental Employment Agency
Iagora
EURES - The European Job Mobility Portal
LinkedIn
Glassdoor
Jobs in Bucharest for English-speaking professionals