Romanian entrepreneurs, more confident than other Europeans: only 30% do not know what kind of employees they will need in two years
Romanian entrepreneurs are more confident than other Europeans, according to a specialized study, which shows that only 30% do not know what skills will be needed in their company in the next two years, compared to 40% at the European level.
Workforce planning is a major priority in 2026. File photo
According to the study, just over half (54%) of HR professionals in Romania believe that workforce planning is an important priority in 2026. The European average is close, reaching 51%. The main concerns are ensuring a sufficient number of employees and organizing the activity more efficiently. This seems to be in contrast to the rise of automation and artificial intelligence. However, a quarter of HR professionals (26%) in Europe cite these technological developments as the main reason they are paying more attention to workforce planning, while domestically, 37% say the same. Another relevant result shows that organizations are increasingly focusing on skills and abilities, rather than job titles, when hiring staff. These conclusions emerge from a new study conducted by the European HR solutions provider SD Worx, which interviewed 5,936 HR managers and 16,500 employees from 16 European countries, including Romania.
From AI to the talent shortage: HR professionals are paying more attention to workforce planning for a variety of reasons. More than half of Romanian employers (54%) say that this will be an important priority for 2026, slightly above the European average of 51%.
The main reasons are the need to ensure a sufficient number of employees and to organize the activity more efficiently. In Romania, this concern is mentioned by 59% of respondents, above the European average of 48%. Other top reasons cited locally are ensuring service continuity and a consistent customer experience (44%) and controlling staffing costs (43%), followed by difficulties in attracting and retaining talent and the need to meet increasingly complex regulatory requirements.
At European level, the next reasons cited by organizations are controlling staff costs (40%) and ensuring continuity of service and customer experience (39%). Talent shortages and increased staff turnover (34%), as well as compliance with increasingly complex regulations (31%) round out the top answers.
61% look beyond job titles when planning staffing
The way organizations approach workforce planning is changing. More than half of employers (61%) no longer focus exclusively on job titles, but increasingly on skills. At European level, more than half of employers (55%) no longer focus exclusively on job titles, but increasingly on skills. At the same time, almost three in ten organizations (29%) focus on strategic workforce planning, rather than operational planning, identifying future staffing and skills needs, and a third combine the two approaches.
Nine out of ten college graduates find work, but many complain about salaries: “We don't all need degrees”
At the same time, at European level, four out of ten employers (39%) do not yet have a clear picture of the skills their organization will need in the next two to three years. In Romania, the percentage is lower, at 30%.
58% of employees find internal mobility in their organization difficult
At the European level, more than half of the employees (54%) believe that their talent and potential are not fully exploited in their current role, while in Romania the percentage approaches 44%; only four in ten (41%) see opportunities for development or role change within the organisation. In Romania, almost two-thirds (58%) also believe that their organization does not facilitate the exploration of internal roles, positions or projects that match their skills and interests, the percentage at European level being 66%.
However, employees are slightly more optimistic when it comes to planning their daily activities. In Romania, 66% say that they manage to coordinate their work without problems with colleagues, compared to 59%, at the European level. Romanians appreciate that their team plans efficiently and in a structured way in a proportion of 55%, while the European average is 46%. However, many organizations still do not provide all the necessary support: over half of employees (54%) say their organization does not provide the right technology to plan their work effectively, while the European average is 58%.
42% prefer a mix of people and technology in workforce planning
69% of employers believe that managers today have the necessary technological tools to effectively plan human resources, while the European average is 61%. Such systems are becoming increasingly important, especially when supported by artificial intelligence. However, full automation is still not preferred by most organizations. Only a quarter of employers in Romania (27%) believe that workforce planning should be fully automated, while 42% prefer a combination of people and technology. In terms of attendance, three out of ten employers (31%) are open to full automation with the help of artificial intelligence at the European level, similar to Romania, where the percentage is 28%.
“Workforce planning is increasingly becoming a strategic component for organizations. Companies are no longer looking only at roles, but at the skills they will need to remain competitive in a constantly changing economic and technological context. This requires a clearer understanding of skills in the organization and closer collaboration between HR and other departments to anticipate changes and better leverage internal talent”, says Ciprian Chiorean, General Manager of SD Worx Romania.
