In March 2025, the average gross earnings in Romania reached 9,495 lei (approximately €1,900), an increase of 563 lei (+6.3%) compared to February 2025, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS) released on May 15, 2025. Net earnings rose to 5,691 lei (approximately €1,140), up 340 lei (+6.4%) from the previous month.
Wage growth was particularly strong in high-value sectors, with the highest average net earnings recorded in tobacco product manufacturing (14,768 lei / approximately €2,950) and computer programming, consultancy, and related activities (13,697 lei / approximately €2,730). In contrast, the lowest wages were found in accommodation and food service activities (3,279 lei / approximately €655) and manufacture of wearing apparel (3,410 lei / approximately €680).
Year-on-year, average net earnings rose 9.8% in March 2025, while the real earnings index reached 104.7% compared to March 2024. This positive trend continued month-on-month, with the real earnings index reaching 106.1% in March 2025 versus February 2025. Notably, the real earnings index is now 264.4% compared to its level in October 1990, reflecting substantial long-term wage growth.
FDI and External Debt Paint a Different Picture
However, this strong wage growth stands in stark contrast to a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) in Romania. FDI totaled €1.672 billion in the first three months of 2025, down from €2.481 billion in the same period in 2024, reflecting a sharp 32.6% decline. The National Trade Register Office (ONRC) reported that 1,565 new companies with foreign equity participation were registered in Romania in the first quarter of 2025, down 6.57% year-on-year. These companies had a combined subscribed share capital of $8.847 million, a 14.5% drop compared to the $28.102 million registered in the same period of 2024.
In March alone, 678 companies with foreign participation were registered, with a total subscribed share capital of $3.68 million. The sectors attracting the most foreign investment included trade with lifting and delivery equipment, car and motorcycle repair (31.86%), professional, administrative, and technical services (10.18%), and telecommunications, programming, and IT consulting (10.03%).
As of March 2025, there were 258,875 companies with foreign participation in Romania, with a total subscribed capital of $72.056 billion. Italian investors lead in the number of companies (54,027), while Dutch firms account for the largest share of subscribed capital, totaling $13.2 billion across 247 companies.
Adding to this complex picture, Romania’s gross foreign debt rose to €205.407 billion ($231.237 billion) at the end of March 2025, up slightly from €204.893 billion at the end of 2024, central bank (BNR) data showed. Meanwhile, the balance-of-payments current account posted a deficit of €7.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, compared to €4.2 billion in the same period last year, indicating a significant widening of the external financing gap.