2026. The cost of living remains high, the pace of change in the labor market is accelerating, and artificial intelligence is beginning to influence professional roles and responsibilities more visibly.

In this context, Undelucram.ro conducted an opinion survey across five Central and Eastern European countries (Romania, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary) to understand how employees relate to their salaries, how secure they feel professionally, and how they perceive the impact of AI on their work.

Here is what the results revealed:

More than half of Romanian employees are dissatisfied with their salary: 57% are open to changing jobs. 64% would do so for a higher salary.
44.8% of employees say the gap between salary and the cost of living is their main source of stress

- 5,173 professionals from Romania, covering all major industries banking, insurance, pensions, IT, retail, industrial production, agriculture, healthcare services, and others as well as all experience levels and age groups, responded to the survey through the Undelucram.ro platform between March 30 and April 30, 2026.

- The survey is part of a broader initiative carried out by the wherewework platform in five countries: Romania, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary.

- 34.8% of Romanian participants say their salary covers only basic expenses or does not cover them at all.

- 64% would accept a new job offer if they received a higher salary.

- Romania does not have a dominant narrative regarding artificial intelligence. 21.8% of Romanian respondents see AI as a productivity tool, 33.4% expect it to restructure their tasks, 17.5% perceive it as a vulnerability, while 19.3% do not anticipate any relevant impact.

More than half of Romanian employees are dissatisfied with their salary, and 57% are open to changing jobs in the next six months, according to a survey conducted by the wherewework network across five Central and Eastern European countries: Romania, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary. In Romania, the survey was conducted by Undelucram.ro between March 30 and April 30, 2026, and gathered 5,173 responses from professionals across the country, covering all major industries, banking, insurance, pensions, IT, retail, industrial production, agriculture, healthcare services, and others — as well as all experience levels and age groups.

“The data from Romania tells a story of slow pressure. Half of employees are dissatisfied, more than half are open to leaving, and the conversation about artificial intelligence is happening everywhere except in formal HR communication. Employers who recognize what their teams already know, that the employment relationship has changed, will retain the talent that will define the next decade,” said Costin Tudor, CEO of wherewework Group.

More than half of Romanians say they are paid below the value of their work

Half of Romanian respondents, 52%, expressed dissatisfaction with their current salary: 19.2% are very dissatisfied, while 32.8% are partially dissatisfied. Only 20.6% report a level of satisfaction, while 27.3% are in the neutral middle zone.

The perception of pay fairness is equally revealing: 46.5% say they are not fairly compensated for the work they do 19.9% not at all, and 26.6% to a small extent while 55.7% believe their salary is below market level compared with colleagues who have similar experience. 12.7% said they do not know how they compare with the market, a sign of salary opacity.

Purchasing power is declining, and financial pressure is increasingly felt

43.3% of Romanian employees report weaker purchasing power compared with 12 months ago, the lowest percentage among the five countries. Among those who report a deterioration, significantly more describe it as “much weaker” 30.8%, than “slightly weaker” 12.5%.

The gap between salary and the cost of living is the main source of financial pressure: 44.8% identify it as their primary stressor, followed by the significant increase in daily expenses, mentioned by 22.5%. 8.8% of Romanian respondents mention debts and bank loans as their main financial pressure, a higher percentage than in any other country included in the survey. Open-ended responses often link this signal to the Prima Casă program from 2022, whose installments increased sharply.

The data highlights the financial pressure felt by a large share of participants: 34.8% say their salary covers only basic expenses or does not cover them at all, while 43.5% manage to maintain a decent standard of living, but only by paying close attention to spending. Only 5.0% report a high level of financial comfort.

The picture of the salary increase needed is consistent: 34.8% need an 11–20% raise to feel fairly paid, 24.2% need a 21–30% raise, while 20.7% need more than 30%.

Perception of artificial intelligence: the most fragmented in the region

Romania does not have a dominant narrative regarding artificial intelligence. 21.8% of Romanian respondents see AI as a productivity tool, 33.4% expect it to restructure their tasks 16.3% expect changes in responsibilities, while 17.1% expect a reduction in activities 17.5% perceive it as a vulnerability, while 19.3% do not anticipate any relevant impact. Another 8.0% are still unsure.

Open-ended responses complete this picture and highlight the first commercial effects of AI adoption on the labor market. Freelancers and professionals working in agencies are among the most affected, with several respondents mentioning that some clients who previously used design, copywriting, and content creation services have moved toward generative artificial intelligence tools.

57% are considering a job change, and 64% would do so for a higher salary

The figures on professional mobility indicate a high level of openness to change: 25.2% of Romanian respondents are actively looking for a new job, while another 31.7% would make a change for an attractive opportunity. In total, 57% are open to changing jobs in the next six months. Only 19.1% are firmly committed to staying in their current job, with Romania nevertheless remaining the most stable of the five countries included in the survey.

The main factor influencing the decision to change jobs is salary level: 64% indicate a higher salary as the main reason they would accept a new job offer. At a significant distance are the need for professional stability, mentioned by 11.3%, followed by career development opportunities, 7.1%, flexible schedule, 6.6%, and a better work environment, 6.6%.

Job insecurity remains high among employees

Concerns about layoffs are widespread, but controlled: 54.5% of Romanian respondents express some level of concern 33.4% moderate, 12.7% strong, and 8.4% extremely concerned. Personal job security is mixed. 36.1% feel insecure about their role over the next 12 months, while only 9.36% say they feel “very secure.”

The full study, with detailed data on salary satisfaction, professional security, and employees’ perceptions of the impact of AI across the five countries analyzed, is available in the complete report: HERE.

The results show a labor market at a moment of reassessment. For employees, salary, professional security, and adaptation to the changes brought by AI are no longer separate topics, but parts of the same conversation about stability, trust, and the future of work. It remains to be seen how organizations will respond to these expectations and how prepared they are to build policies that take into account not only the pace of change, but also people’s real needs.