eJobs Survey: Four in 10 Romanian employees, dissatisfied with current salary, feel financial pressure in daily life

  Four in 10 Romanian employees (39%) are dissatisfied with their current salary and feel financial pressure in their daily lives, according to a survey conducted by eJobs, and almost 50% of the surveyed would need a salary of at least RON 6,000 to meet their monthly expenses.As many as 52.8% say they are satisfied only to a certain extent, while only 8.2% have no reason to be dissatisfied. Almost 70% say that they have come to feel financial pressure often or very often in their daily lives. Less than 6% of respondents belong to the category of those who do not feel burdened by monthly expenses."The main reasons for this financial pressure are the too high monthly costs they have with utilities, debts (credit cards, loans) or the fact that they no longer keep up with the increase in prices, even when they consume the same products or services as in the past. 18% of respondents say they would like to be able to afford other products or services than the basic ones, and that generates a strong sense of frustration," according to Ana Calugaru, head of communications at eJobs.Although the survey data shows that employees are more dissatisfied than satisfied with their salaries, almost 63% say they received a salary increase in the last year and a half. Thus, 29.1% received a salary increase in 2025, and 33.7% in 2024. For 15.1% the most recent increase took place in 2023, 6% have the same salary since 2022, and 3% since 2020 or 2021. 7.7% do not remember when their salary was last increased, and for 5.5% their salary is the same as when they were hired.Asked what the monthly net income is they would need in order not to feel financial pressure and to have a decent living, 24.6% indicate between RON 6,001 and RON 8,000. 22% would need a salary of between RON 8,001 and RON 10,000, 15.5% between RON 10,001 and RON12,000, and 13.3% over RON 15,000. A quarter of the respondents would manage with less than RON 6,000 per month."Although we are talking about a consistent percentage of respondents who have recently had a salary increase, we still see a rather large discrepancy between the salary level they are at now and the increase they would still need to reach a point of financial comfort. Their answers show us that, in most cases, they would need at least 20% more than what they are earning," says Calugaru.The survey shows that if they were unable to change their job with one paying the salary they need to support themselves without giving up much, 84% would do so without any hesitation.There are, however, things that, in addition to the salary, could contribute to reducing the financial pressure and improving the quality of professional life. In first place is the flexibility of the working hours, mentioned by a third of the employees. Then there are extra-salary benefits, opportunities for professional development and career advancement, but also a pleasant work environment and a healthy organisational culture.The survey was conducted in June, on a sample of 2,452 respondents employed full-time, part-time or freelancers. The salary ceilings in which the participants in the study fall are as follows: 17.2% were earning between RON 2,500 and RON 3,500, 29.3% between RON 3,501 and RON 5,000, 31.2% between RON 5,001 and RON 8,000, 13.5% between RON 8,001 and RON 12,000, and 5.4% over RON 12,001; 3.5% did not want to answer.eJobs is a job platform in Romania. (EUR 1 = RON 5.07)