Logistics and Agriculture: Driving Romania and Bulgaria’s Labor Transformation


 

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/

 

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