Event News.ro – FOCUS on HR – 2nd Edition

CONTEXT

• The labor market was disrupted in 2020-2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic, and later there were sectors that, after the lockdown, resumed their activity as before, while others were better suited to ” work from home” or at a partial resumption of activity, such as in the IT field.
• Currently, the general economic situation in Romania is difficult, the Government has problems with budget revenues and has imposed new taxes, some of which also affect the labor market. Some facilities granted in the past to some sectors, such as IT, construction, agriculture, were partially withdrawn, and the taxation regime for SMEs was tightened, according to the commitments made through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
• On the other hand, the minimum gross salary was increased from October 1 by 10%, from 3,000 to 3,300 lei, without allowances, increments and other additions, in construction and agriculture the increase being higher, considering the chronic lack of labor in the two fields, caused by the exodus of Romanian workers to EU states that offer higher salaries.
• Against the background of the economic crisis, there is the possibility that some small businesses will close or multinationals will reconsider their investments in Romania, which could also affect the labor market.
• The unemployment rate in Romania remains stable, just over 5%, but it remains high among young people (around 20%) due to the lack of correlation between education and the labor market, but also undeclared work, which is much more frequent in the case of young people.
• The shortage of skilled labor is a big problem in Romania at the moment, given that the number of vocational school graduates is far below what is needed to cover the acute need for craftsmen.
• According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), approximately 20,000 students annually graduate from professional schools, while, according to experts, the need on the market would be five times greater.
• Specializations with a technical profile in state education still have a problem of not adapting to the labor market, not only in terms of the number of students, but especially in terms of the level of training and specialization for the jobs that employers need. The reality of the market indicates a high demand in the area of qualified labor, and companies always complain about the lack of personnel suitable for the activity they carry out.
• And in the area of unskilled work or work that requires rapid qualification, the labor shortage is great, employers are bringing in foreign workers, especially from Asia, and the annual quotas approved by the state are increasing.
• Many companies are making efforts to create the best possible conditions for employees, focusing lately on well-being and even mental health, in addition to classic HR tools.
• Another major challenge is the digitization of HR processes, which has been accelerated by the pandemic restrictions and which also has major effects on the labor market.

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

• Analysis of the labor market. Government programs for the labor market.
• The labor force deficit, the discrepancy between demand and supply on the labor market. What are the most sought-after skills? What are employees looking for?
• Training of qualified personnel – Dual education and acquisition of digital skills.
• How did the organizational transformation take place? Employee motivation and productivity. How do we maintain/increase engagement?
• Trends and priorities in HR – The most frequent problems encountered by recruiters. The use of digital tools.
• Employees’ well-being and mental health.
• How important is innovation in attracting talent and retention, but also in employer branding.

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