Bucharest is often portrayed as a city “full of opportunities” for expats. In reality, the labor market is strongly concentrated in a few sectors, and access is far from equal across industries. In 2026, expats who secure stable jobs in the Romanian capital overwhelmingly work in three main areas. Other options do exist, but they are exceptions rather than the rule.

IT & Tech – the main entry point

The IT sector remains the most accessible and predictable field for expats. English is the working language, teams are international, and hiring decisions are based almost entirely on professional skills.

Roles consistently in demand include:

• software developers,
• data analysts,
• product managers,
• cybersecurity specialists,
• QA and DevOps engineers.

Romanian language skills are not required, and prior experience in international environments is a strong advantage. In this sector, expats are not merely “accommodated” — they are fully integrated.

BPO / SSC / Customer Support – the most common reality

If there is one area where expats are genuinely numerous, it is shared services and support centers. Bucharest functions as a regional hub for Central and Eastern Europe.

The most common roles include:

• multilingual customer support,
• finance and accounting operations,
• procurement,
• HR operations,
• compliance and back-office roles.

Citizenship is not the key factor — language is. Expats who speak less common languages (Nordic languages, Asian languages, Arabic, Dutch, Portuguese, etc.) are in particularly high demand. Romanian is not required at the hiring stage.

Regional Sales & Business Development – limited but real

There are opportunities for expats in sales and business development, but rarely for the Romanian market itself. Most roles are regional or international in scope.

Employers look for professionals who:

• understand foreign markets,
• can manage B2B relationships,
• have experience in negotiation and commercial strategy.

The number of positions is limited, but salaries tend to be above average.

Private Education and Training – stable but narrow

Expats working in education are found almost exclusively in the private sector: international schools, language centers, and corporate training. The public education system is effectively inaccessible.

This field suits candidates with:

• internationally recognized certifications,
• teaching experience,
• native-level English or other widely used languages.

Fields where expats appear, but do not define the market

Marketing, creative industries, media, and content creation do exist, but they are not core expat employment sectors. Most positions require Romanian, and many collaborations are project-based or freelance.

Expats who succeed here are typically:

• independent contractors,
• freelancers,
• professionals working on international rather than local projects.

Fields where access is largely blocked

In 2026, expats rarely obtain jobs in:

• public administration,
• healthcare (doctors, clinical psychologists),
• legal professions,
• public education,
• social services,
• traditional retail.

The main barriers are the combination of language requirements, local legislation, and mandatory national accreditation.

Bucharest is not a city where expats can “do anything.” It is a city where they can do a few things very well: IT, multilingual corporate services, and regional roles. For those who fit these profiles, opportunities are real and stable. For everyone else, the market is narrow and difficult to access.

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