BestJobs: 2021 brought bigger salaries, with 25% more jobs and an increased interest in remote work

The tendency of Romanian employees to search for new job opportunities, digitalization, and remote work has led to significant changes in the job market in 2022. According to data from the BestJobs platform, in 2021 the number of active jobs has increased by 25% compared to the previous year and more than half (56%) of them are addressed to white-collar candidates.

Wages have risen in all the work fields, from 16% in IT/ Telecom, to 31% in Sales and Marketing. The number of remote opportunities has increased as well, with 40% more than in 2020, and has registered 1.8 million applications from candidates, and approximately 30.000 keyword searches, including “remote” in the top searched activities on the platform.

In 2021, 91% of the active candidates on BestJobs have shown their preference to know the remuneration offered for the position they wanted to apply to. Among the best-paid fields in 2021 were IT/ Telecom, with a medium net salary of 1.629 Euro, Medicine/ Health, with a medium net salary of 1.433 Euro, Engineering and Management with 1.200, respectively 1.222 Euro per month, according to BestJobs report. The least remunerated positions were registered in fields such as Administrative/ Secretary, with 771 Euro, Call Center with 797 Euro, and Tourism / Horeca, with 879 Euro.

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The work market in 2022 will be characterized by increased mobility for employees, the employers’ challenges to attract the right candidates, and the launch of new benefits packages

The recruiting process will be challenging in 2022 as well, given the shortfall of the workforce on the Romanian market. Moreover, 67% of Romanian employees plan to change their job in 2022, according to BestJobs, for in 2021, 61% of them considered that stress levels have increased, and wellbeing has become a priority in the workplace.

As the number of jobs is rising and the demand for work overtops the offer, companies need to change their strategy in order to attract and retain specialists. So, 45% of the employers consider that it will be much harder to attract good candidates in 2022, in comparison with the last two years.

In 2022, 52% of the employees expect a raise and 35% of HR specialists estimate an increase by 10-15%. Among the extra bonuses employees want are transportation discounts (39%), performance bonuses (38%), programs for personal development (30%), and health insurance or subscriptions to private healthcare clinics (29%). Moreover, the employers want to implement an employer branding strategy, along with facilitating wellbeing programs, in order to satisfy and improve their people’s wellness.

Given the fact that 2021 has clarified the personal priorities of employees, in 2022, through their expectations of the employers, there is a need to have their work appreciated (69%), to have a better balance between their personal and professional life (29%), but also the freedom to choose where to work from (27%). Plus, especially in the IT field, there’s the expectancy from the employer to be flexible regarding the form of collaboration (CIM, PFA, or SRL).

“We are witnessesing a major change in the dynamics between employees and employers, one we’ve never encountered for many years and we didn’t expect it through the pandemic. The work market in 2022 looks favourable to employees, who are now in the position to establish new trends in the way they work, but also regarding the benefits they have. As a partner in recruiting, we are ready to fulfill the needs of all players, both on the side of the recruiters, and of the employees, making available the best tools to facilitate the meeting of their needs”, says Andrei Frunză, CEO BestJobs Romania.

The remote work and the importance of digital skills remain top tendencies in 2022, and the need to streamline the recruiting process will become a priority for employers

The new year will inherit the trends of 2021 that won their place and proved their relevance. Therefore, after 2 years in which employers had the possibility to observe that the productivity remained high even by working at a distance, remote work will be a viable option although the things might go back to the pre-pandemic “normal”. Hence, the Human Resources field goes through a transformation to digital, beginning to create a better recruiting experience, and also to solidify the employer’s brand.

Plus, employees have gained flexibility when it comes to professional development and they are more prepared than ever to adapt to any unseen changes and professional reconversion. Thus, the investments in their skills, especially digital ones, remain a priority for candidates and they expect support from their employers.

The online selection and interviews appeared as a necessity but made things go more smoothly in the recruiting process, and it became a habit. Online tools for analyzing CVs, headhunting services, and strategies to reach and attract passive candidates, complete the efficiency of recruiting process in 2022, while choosing a partner to facilitate these undertakings becomes mandatory.