Romania and Bulgaria are stepping into a new role in Europe’s labor market,
welcoming foreign workers and relying on them to support their economic
momentum. Nowhere is this shift more visible than in two key sectors: logistics and agriculture. These
industries are facing rising demand and are struggling with a domestic labor
shortfall, accelerating the need for skilled, committed, and mobile foreign
talent.
Logistics: Keeping the Supply Chain Running.
Romania and Bulgaria are strategically located near major EU corridors.
Romania borders Ukraine and is a gateway into the Balkans, while Bulgaria
connects to Turkey and Southeastern trade routes. These locations have made
both countries regional logistics hubs.
In Romania, logistics and warehousing grew by 14% in 2023, according to
Eurostat. Bulgaria’s transport sector, which includes freight forwarding and
distribution, accounts for more than 12% of national GDP. But while
infrastructure is growing, staffing it has proven difficult.
“We work with companies that manage large logistics centers near Bucharest
or Plovdiv, and they are constantly looking for warehouse workers, forklift
operators, and transport planners,” says Jon Purizhansky, CEO of Joblio. “Domestic recruitment isn’t enough to fill
these roles, especially for night shifts, rural locations, or high-turnover
environments.”
To solve this, employers are turning to workers from South Asia, Central
Asia, and Africa. According to Romania’s Ministry of Labor, transport and
warehousing had the second-highest demand for third-country nationals in 2023,
after construction.
Workers are typically brought in on one- to two-year contracts. But
increasingly, businesses are looking for ways to retain them longer.
“This isn’t about rotating people in and out,” Jon Purizhansky adds. “The
most forward-looking logistics companies are offering language classes, driver
training, and multi-year pathways. They want a reliable workforce, not
short-term fillers.”
Agriculture: Sustaining the Rural Economy.
In both countries, agriculture is an economic bedrock and a major employer.
Bulgaria’s agricultural sector employs around 6% of its workforce, while
Romania’s farms—covering 12.8 million hectares—support a wide range of seasonal
and year-round production.
Yet, rural depopulation is straining the sector’s future.
In many farming regions, younger generations have migrated to cities or
abroad. That leaves elderly farmers and a limited labor pool, especially during
peak harvest seasons. The Romanian National Institute of Statistics reported
that in 2023, farms in southern and eastern regions were operating at 60% of
necessary labor capacity.
To cope, farm operators are bringing in seasonal workers from Vietnam,
Uzbekistan, and Morocco, often for fruit picking, vegetable processing, or
greenhouse work.
But seasonal labor alone isn’t enough.
“There’s a growing need for skilled agricultural workers. People, who can
manage irrigation, maintain equipment, or supervise livestock,” Jon Purizhansky
explains. “These aren’t casual jobs. They require experience and training, and
in many cases, long-term visas.”
Joblio has partnered with agricultural cooperatives to
match trained workers from Asia and Latin America to Romanian and Bulgarian
farms that lack reliable year-round staffing. The platform ensures that
contracts are transparent, and that workers are not charged recruitment fees, addressing
a common risk in agricultural migration.
The Role of EU Programs.
While these labor trends are largely driven by local business needs, EU
policy is playing a supportive role. Both countries benefit
from EU-funded programs such as:
- AMIF (Asylum, Migration
and Integration Fund): Funds local integration, especially language and housing support.
- CAP (Common Agricultural
Policy): Provides
direct aid to farms, some of which is being tied to employment standards
and modernization efforts.
- Talent Partnerships and
Mobility Packages: Encourages bilateral agreements between EU and non-EU countries to
provide pre-departure training and facilitate ethical labor pathways.
These programs don’t directly replace labor, but they do create conditions
for safer, more sustainable workforce transitions.
An Industrial Crossroads.
Both sectors, logistics and agriculture, are expected to grow. Romania’s
logistics sector is projected to expand 5–7% annually through 2026, according
to a report by PwC Romania. Bulgaria is expanding its agricultural exports to
the Middle East and North Africa, creating new logistical needs and boosting
food production.
But that growth depends heavily on who shows up to do the work.
“This is where governments and companies must align,” Jon Purizhansky notes. “Foreign
labor isn’t a stopgap. It’s becoming foundational to how these industries
function. Treating these workers with dignity and respect isn’t a bonus. It’s
the only way the system works long-term.”
Romania and Bulgaria are no longer transition points on Europe’s migration
map. Through logistics and agriculture, they are steadily becoming destinations,
places where foreign labor is welcome and essential. The success of this shift
will depend on how these countries balance employer needs, ethical recruitment,
and long-term inclusion.
Originally posted on: https://www.jonpurizhanskybuffalo.com/logistics-and-agriculture-driving-romania-and-bulgarias-labor-transformation/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment