The labor market entered 2026 with a new reality for those looking for a job: more candidates, fewer opportunities and a competition that heats up from month to month. OLX Romania data show that over 2.65 million applications were registered in the first quarter of the year, 10% more than in the same period in 2025. At the same time, however, the number of active ads fell by 43%, from 72,386 to 41,221. Simply translated, each available job today attracts nearly 64 applications, twice as many as last year, when the average was 33. For candidates, this means more CVs sent, more waiting and a tougher game for each opportunity. «The figures from the first quarter of 2026 show a labor market in which candidates are more active than ever, but the supply does not keep up with the demand. Behind the 2.6 million applications we see people who want a professional change», says Andreea Oancea, senior brand manager, OLX Romania. Most applications still go to the areas where the demand for personnel remains constant: drivers, couriers, car services, logistics, production and HoReCa. But the real surprise comes from the areas where interest explodes: retail and sales. The category of cashiers – commercial workers rose by almost 30%, and that of agents and sales consultants by over 37%. Even more spectacular is the migration to office jobs. Applications for business administration increased by 139% and for HR by more than 52%, a sign that many candidates are looking for stability, a predictable schedule and an alternative to more volatile industries. Regarding salaries, the best offers remain in construction, where the displayed average exceeds 6,500 lei net. Close to this level are the jobs in transport, courier and work abroad, all above the threshold of 5,800 lei net. Education comes with one of the biggest salary increases, of almost 26%, up to an average of 4,691 lei net. On the other hand, retail, catering and production – fields that recruit intensively – remain in the area of salaries below 4,100 lei net. The strongest signal, however, comes from IT, a sector that in recent years was the locomotive of the labor market. In 2026, the average salary displayed in IT and telecom decreased by 10.6%, to 5,005 lei, while the number of available jobs decreased by over 43%.