The risk of losing their job, the fear that they can no longer pay their debts, and that they will have a lower quality of life have become the main concerns of Romanians in 2009.
In 2008, most Romanians (47 percent) were preoccupied with trying to make a decent living and having additional comfort in their everyday life. A similar percentage was concerned at that time about inflation that threatened their income and investments, according to GfK.
“Compared to last year, the concerns and fears of Romanians in 2009 are much more basic, and more closely related to financial stability and the safety of their family,” the General Manager of GfK Romania, Andi Dumitrescu, said.
These concerns are justified, especially since forecasts for 2009 are pretty grim in terms of layoffs. A study conducted by Hewitt Associates at the beginning of this year indicates that over 30 percent of private Romanian companies are planning to operate layoffs in 2009, due to the negative economic evolution.
The number of unemployed on the local market amounted to 550,000, and the jobless rate registered in June was of six percent, according to the National Employment Agency (ANOFM).
