AI Adoption Grows in Romania, Along With Job Anxiety
By Suad Seferi ·
Romanian employees are adopting artificial intelligence at work faster than the European average, but those already using the technology are also more worried about what it could eventually do to their jobs. A survey published by European HR company SD Worx found that 35% of employees in Romania use AI at least once a week for work, compared with 29% across Europe. Among Romanian AI users, 68% said the technology helps them work more efficiently. AI adoption and job anxietyThe figures show how quickly AI has moved from experimentation into everyday work. Employees are using it to write, organise information, analyse documents and complete routine tasks faster. But the productivity gains are being accompanied by growing uncertainty. Thirty percent of Romanian employees said they fear AI could make a significant part of their work unnecessary. Among those who already use AI, the figure rises to 38%. That difference is notable. People with direct experience of the technology appear more convinced of its usefulness, but also more aware of how much work it could absorb. AI use is increasingAI use is still increasing. Thirty-seven percent of Romanian employees said they are using the technology more frequently in their daily work, above the European average of 32%. Managers are moving faster than other workers. Forty-one percent of Romanian managers reported increasing their use of AI, compared with 26% of employees without management responsibilities. Companies, however, are not always providing the same level of support. Only 52% of Romanian AI users said their employer gives them enough help to develop the skills needed to use the technology effectively. That leaves many employees learning through experimentation, often without clear guidance on which information can be entered into public AI systems, when an answer needs to be checked, or who is responsible when the technology produces a mistake. Romanian workers are also asking for more transparency. Workers demand explainable AI decisionsSeventy percent said AI systems should explain how they reach their conclusions, compared with 64% across Europe. The issue becomes more serious when AI is used for decisions involving recruitment, employee performance, customer service or access to workplace opportunities. In those areas, a fast answer is not enough. Workers also want to understand how it was produced. Most respondents still believe human abilities will remain difficult to replace. Sixty-nine percent of Romanian employees said AI cannot fully reproduce uniquely human qualities, close to the European average of 68%. But employees are divided over how work will be shared in the coming years. Just over half expect people to continue performing most tasks themselves, with AI providing limited assistance. Another 41% expect humans and AI systems to share more responsibilities. The gap between users and non-users is significant. Among employees who do not currently use AI, 72% expect people to continue handling most work independently. Among existing AI users, that figure drops to 31%. Six in ten AI users believe the future will involve people and AI dividing tasks between them. The survey covered 16,500 employees and 5,936 HR managers across 16 European countries. The research was conducted between January 27 and February 20, with the Romanian findings published in July. Romanian employees do not appear to need much convincing that AI can be useful. Many are already using it and seeing measurable benefits. The pressure is now shifting to employers. They will need to decide how AI should be used, what protections employees need and whether workplace rules can keep pace with adoption. Source: The findings come from SD Worx’s 2026 European workforce survey, conducted among 16,500 employees and 5,936 HR managers across 16 countries. The Romanian results were published by SD Worx in July 2026.