Romania Lacks Maximum 100,000 Employees – Labor Min

"There is no methodology to calculate the labor force shortage. This indicator differs from person to person and company to company, and may be of 100,000 or 1 million people, depending on the case. The only concrete data we may get are from employment agencies, who currently reported a shortage of 85,000-100,000 people," Pacuraru said during a human resources management seminar.

Economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said in November last year that the country lacks nearly 500,000 workers mainly in constructions, heavy industry, mechanics and automotive industries.

The Romanian Association of Construction Entrepreneurs, or ARACO, said the Romanian construction market needs an additional 170,000 workers in 2008-2009.

According to Pacuraru, half the labor shortage of 100,000 employees is in constructions, followed by the textile industry.

The minister said that although there is no clear picture of the labor force, the situation is seen worsening. Pacuraru said Romania must first use local resources and adapt school curricula to market needs.

"We must first appeal to local resources and if we don’t manage to balance the deficit, we’ll have to resort to immigration. However, such a measure entails huge costs," Pacuraru said.

He also reminded of authorities’ strategy to encourage Romanians working abroad to return to their home country.