Study:Business services sector contributed 35.5 billion euros to Romania's economy in 2025

 The business services industry generated gross value added of 35.5 billion euros in Romania last year, accounting for approximately 10% of the economy's total gross value added, according to a study conducted by Deloitte Romania for the Business Service Leaders Association (ABSL).'Romania combines several of the key criteria sought by international investors, such as a large market, access to a highly skilled workforce, strong language skills, high productivity, competitive costs and opportunities to expand into numerous cities, the study shows. Romania has one of the largest labour pools in Central and Eastern Europe among the markets analysed, with approximately 8.3 million people active in the labour market, surpassed only by Poland,' the analysis states.In addition, Romania ranks second in the region in terms of the number of graduates and workers with higher education qualifications, providing companies with access to skills essential for complex operations and specialised services.The study also highlights the country's strong tradition in foreign languages, which continues to represent a major advantage for companies with international operations.At the same time, labour productivity, measured by the economic value generated per hour worked, places Romania among the region's top performers. With a score of 52.1, Romania outperforms markets such as Poland (48.8) and Slovakia (47.6), while ranking just behind Lithuania (54.7) and Portugal (54.4) and almost on a par with the Czech Republic (52.4), the study shows.'The study's data confirm that the business services industry has become a strategic sector for Romania's economy, both in terms of its size and the value it generates. The more than 280,000 professionals in the industry are no longer simply providing support services, but are increasingly contributing to global transformation, technology, data analytics, automation and artificial intelligence processes. The next step for Romania is to turn its current advantages into a long-term competitive position through investment in advanced skills, education and infrastructure, as well as through a predictable economic framework. We have an opportunity to evolve from an important destination for business services into a regional hub for innovation and high-value-added activities, and our ability to capitalise on this opportunity will shape the industry's coming years,' ABSL Romania President Adrian Baron said, according to the press release.Despite recent inflationary pressures, the study shows that Romania remains one of the most competitive European locations in terms of the total cost of employment. A comparison of this indicator for a mid-level accounting specialist in each of the countries analysed shows that Romania is among the destinations with the lowest costs, surpassed in the region only by Bulgaria.At the other end of the scale are Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Estonia, which record the highest costs. Simulations through to 2030, taking into account the impact of projected inflation rates, indicate that Romania will maintain its competitive advantage and continue to rank among the most cost-efficient European markets for operating service centres.According to this simulation, in 2030 the ranking of countries with the lowest total employment costs is expected to be led by India, the Philippines and Bulgaria, while Romania is expected to retain its competitiveness even in the context of higher inflation, ranking sixth.At the other end of the scale, the highest total employment costs are projected to be recorded in Portugal (13th), the Czech Republic (12th) and Slovakia (11th).As regards the expansion of the business services ecosystem beyond the capital, the study highlights Romania's potential, noting that the country has ten cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, ranking second in Europe after Poland from this perspective.In addition, more than 14 other cities with populations of between 90,000 and 200,000 offer favourable conditions for new investments or the expansion of existing operations. Cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Timisoara, Brasov, Sibiu, Oradea and Constanta offer investors a substantial labour pool, a significant number of graduates from strong universities, less saturated labour markets and competitive operating costs.'Romania currently hosts more than 1,000 service centres and more than 280,000 employees, making it one of the mo st developed business services markets in Central and Eastern Europe. The sector already accounts for 15.2% of the total workforce with higher education qualifications, confirming the high level of specialisation and maturity of the business services industry. In addition, the local sector increased its share of the economy to 9.9% in 2025, confirming its positive momentum and continued attractiveness for new investments and the expansion of existing operations,' the source cited states.The second edition of Deloitte's 'Business Services Comparative Analysis' compares ten European countries and three Asian markets, analysing a wide range of macroeconomic and industry-specific indicators, including labour availability, operating costs, productivity, inflation, the property market, grants and investment incentives, as well as other factors relevant to the business environment.Deloitte Romania, in cooperation with Reff & Associates | Deloitte Legal, provides audit, tax consultancy, legal, consulting and risk management services, financial advisory, technology services and consulting solutions, as well as other related services.