Study: About nine in ten Romanians choose private sector for jobs, whether or not employed

About nine in ten Romanians would choose to work in the private sector, regardless of whether or not they are currently employed, with the trend being even more pronounced among young people from Generation Z, with 93% of them currently gainfully employed choosing a private sector organisation, according to the latest survey "Most Wanted Employers 2024" conducted by a market research agency.According to a press statement released on Tuesday, the survey signals that the IT & Technology and Retail sectors stand out as the most attractive for Romanian professionals, while the preferences of Generation Z redefine the criteria for choosing the employer.Thus, the IT & Technology sector dominates the preferences with 18% of the options and attracts not only IT professionals, but also specialists in the Financial-Accounting field. The giants Google and Microsoft lead the top of the preferred employers in this sector."Competitive salaries (40%) and flexibility (15%) are the main reasons why employees are attracted to the IT field, while for those looking for a job, professional development is the main asset (36%)," according to Cori Cimpoca, founder of the MKOR research agency that conducted the study.Retail ranks second with 10% of preferences, especially in the case of professions working in manufacturing, accounting and operations. Dedeman and eMAG stand out as leaders in this field.The sector attracts both women and rural dwellers, an indication that it offers career opportunities in places where they may be more limited.Although salary and benefits remain paramount (33%), one in five Romanian employees consider the work environment and organisational culture decisive in choosing their employer. Contrary to post-pandemic expectations, only 6% of employees consider flexibility important in choosing a job. That matters more contextually, for example, more in the case of women.Professional and personal development is the main reason why those who do not have a job would go to work. The Tech and FMCG sectors are seen as beneficial areas to evolve in.According to the survey, by 2034, Generation Z will represent about 40% of the workforce, which makes it essential for organisations to adjust for the preferences of this generation."Data provide a clear picture of a labour market in full transformation. Employers who will be able to adapt to these new preferences, offering not only competitive salaries, but also a positive work environment and development opportunities, will be the ones who will attract and retain the best talent in the years to come," said Cimpoca.Romania's GenZ are said to bring new priorities to the employers' landscape, giving increased importance to the company's standing and development opportunities. More connected to employer branding through social media, they evaluate not only the salary package, but also the company's image and values. Adapting to these preferences becomes essential for long-term organisational success, according to the survey.The study is representative of the Romanian population and was conducted as an online opinion survey on a sample of 1,244 people, of which 953 gainfully employed people, 214 unemployed and 77 entrepreneurs, aged between 18 and 65 years.MKOR is a market research agency that combines practical business experience, MBA-level know-how and expertise to provide an in-depth understanding of the business environment. In its activity, MKOR covers all types of research and offers increased flexibility to its clients, in order to understand and deliver the most detailed market insights. It also develops a series of its own research projects.